Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 20
Renowned football coach Ali Hassan, the go-to man for the region’s players for more than four decades, died on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday following a cardiac arrest.
With the death of the 69-year-old veteran coach, Punjab lost its most iconic coach and mentor.
The football community in the state and beyond its borders is mourning the death of the coach who mentored countless players to the highest level. “I am shocked at his departure. He shared a very good relationship with me. Punjab’s football has seen an immense change under his guidance. His trainees are very well placed at different clubs and teams. I must say Punjab has lost one of its gems,” said Harjinder Singh, former Indian captain.
Known to be a ‘diamantaire’ for his ability to spot youngsters and shape them into top level professionals, Hassan was among those figures who built Doaba into a football hub.
Born in Malerkotla, Hassan moved to Mahilpur and made it his home. He not only developed football in Mahilpur but also had a positive impact on colleges and schools in nearby areas including Garhshankar, Hoshiarpur and Dasuya.
Hassan was one of the coaches handpicked by the legendary athlete Milkha Singh when he was heading the Punjab Sports Department. Hassan started coaching at Mahilpur in 1975. While other coaches would get transferred at frequent intervals, Hassan remained at his favourite venue for more than 25 years. When he was promoted as District Sports Officer (DSO) and asked to join at Moga, he refused to accept the promotion and stayed at Mahilpur instead.
A diploma holder in football coaching from NIS Patiala in 1974, Hassan strengthened his credentials and was duly selected as coach by Milkha Singh in 1975. He was associated with Punjab’s school teams and started winning honours in the National School Games from 1976. Under his watch, Punjab’s schools won six gold, six silver and five bronze medals.
He also played a huge role in nurturing players to the top level, men such as Hardip Sangha, Hardip Gill, Jaswinder, Arvind Kumar, Baljit Singh, Darbara Singh, Narinder Thapa, Yashpal, Parveen Kumar and Sher Singh. Former Indian skipper Tejinder Kumar also trained with Hassan Ali.
Hassan the builder
“There was a time when Punjab’s football team used to have its say at the national level. Hassan used to prepare teams for the Nationals and opponents used to fear us. He was the man who changed Punjab’s football pattern. He had been a mentor not only for players who are now retired but also to those who are youngsters,” said Kulwant Sangha, president of the Principal Harbhajan Sporting Club in Mahilpur.
The club has decided to honour Hassan’s memory by naming a fairplay trophy after him in all their tournaments. “We will request the Punjab government to name the upcoming international stadium, being built on the outskirts of Mahilpur, in Hassan’s name. His contribution to football is indescribable,” said Dr Param Preet Kaindowal, joint secretary of the club.
Overseeing school teams in int’l matches
Apart from mentoring players from the region, Ali Hassan had coached school teams in international events as well. He was with the Indian team at the Asian School Football Championship in Brunei in 1995. Three members in that squad were from the Mahilpur Football Academy. He was also with the Indian team at the Asian School Football Championship in 2000 in Bangkok, where the Indians finished fifth.
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