New Delhi, March 8: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has expressed its condolences on the passing of former Indian forward Syed Habibul Hasan Hamid, who passed away on Friday in Hyderabad. Hamid is survived by his wife, one daughter, and two sons.
Syed Habibul Hasan Hamid played an international match for India during the 1964 AFC Asian Cup against Hong Kong in Tel Aviv, where India secured a 3-1 victory. He was also part of the Indian contingent at the 1960 Rome Olympics and represented the country in the 1964 pre-Olympic tournament.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey conveyed his sorrow in a statement, saying, “Syed Habibul Hasan Hamid was a remarkable forward in his time. His contributions to Indian football will always be remembered with great respect. On behalf of the Indian football community, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the entire football fraternity. May God grant his soul peace.”
At the domestic level, Hamid represented Hyderabad, Bengal, and Maharashtra in the Santosh Trophy, winning the tournament with Maharashtra in 1963.
On the club level, Habibul Hasan Hamid played for City College Old Boys (Hyderabad), Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Tata Sports. He won the Aga Khan Gold Cup (1960), Dr. H.K. Mukherjee Shield (1960), and DCM Trophy (1961) with Mohun Bagan, and the Rovers Cup (1962, joint) with East Bengal.
During his prime, Andhra Pradesh was one of India’s major football hubs, producing several outstanding players like Syed Naimuddin and Shabbir Ali. The state also clinched the title in the national football championship for the Santosh Trophy in 1965-66.
Previously, the Hyderabad team had won two Santosh Trophy titles in 1957 and 1958, with players like Syed Khwaja Aziz-ud-Din, Muhammad Noor, Anthony Patrick, and Syed Shahid Hakim emerging during that era.