Syed Abdus Samad (footballer)

Syed Abdus Samad

Personal information
Full name	Syed Abdus Samad
Date of birth	(1895-12-06)6 December 1895
Place of birth	Purnia, Bihar, British India
Date of death	2 February 1964(1964-02-02) (aged 68)
Place of death	Bangladesh
Playing position	Forward
National team
	India

Syed Abdus Samad (1895–1964) was a football player from Bengal.^[1] He was known in British Bengal as Magician Samad.^[2] He played as a forward. His football career lasted from 1915-38.^[2] Government of Bangladesh launched a postage stamp series in his memory.^[3]

Life

Syed Abbas Samad was born in 1895 in Purnea of Bihar, British India. His formal education ended when he left school during his studies in the eighth grade. Samad displayed his talents in football from his early boyhood. His skill was ‘astonishing’ particularly in dribbling and tackling and in taking measured shots. He drew attention of the football club managers of Calcutta when he played for the Purnea Junior Football Club. He joined the Calcutta Main Town Club in 1912. During 1915-1920, he was actively associated with Tajhat Football Club of Rangpur.

In 1916, Samad played in a match against Somerset Football Team of England. He played for Calcutta Orients Club in 1918 and for the East Bengal Railway Team in 1921-1930. Samad scored the most memorable trophy-winning goal of his career in 1927 against the Sherwood Forestry Team patronised by the Chief of the Indian Army Lieutenant General Sherwood Mall.

Samad was selected for the Indian National Team in 1924 and captained the side in 1926. He toured Burma, Ceylon, Hong Kong, China, Java, Sumatra, Malay, Borneo, Singapore and Britain. In a match played against China in Peking, he played as a substitute player in the second half and scored four goals in a row to give his side a 4-3 victory after trailing 0-3 in the first half. At the age of 38 Samad joined the Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club (established 1891) in 1933 and played for the next five years with skill, vigour and devotion.

In 1916, Samad played in a match against Somerset Football Team of England. He played for Calcutta Orients Club in 1918 and for the East Bengal Railway Team in 1921-1930. Samad scored the most memorable trophy-winning goal of his career in 1927 against the Sherwood Forestry Team patronised by the Chief of the Indian Army Lieutenant General Sherwood Mall.

Samad was selected for the Indian National Team in 1924 and captained the side in 1926. He toured Burma, Ceylon, Hong Kong, China, Java, Sumatra, Malay, Borneo, Singapore and Britain. In a match played against China in Peking, he played as a substitute player in the second half and scored four goals in a row to give his side a 4-3 victory after trailing 0-3 in the first half. At the age of 38 Samad joined the Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club (established 1891) in 1933 and played for the next five years with skill, vigour and devotion.

In 1916, Samad played in a match against Somerset Football Team of England. He played for CalcuttaOrients Club in 1918 and for the East Bengal Railway Team in 1921-1930. Samad scored the most memorable trophy-winning goal of his career in 1927 against the Sherwood Forestry Team patronised by the Chief of the Indian Army Lieutenant General Sherwood Mall.

Samad was selected for the Indian National Team in 1924 and captained the side in 1926. He toured Burma, Ceylon, Hong Kong, China, Java, Sumatra, Malay, Borneo, Singapore and Britain. In a match played against China in Peking, he played as a substitute player in the second half and scored four goals in a row to give his side a 4-3 victory after trailing 0-3 in the first half. At the age of 38 Samad joined the Calcutta Mohammedan Sporting Club (established 1891) in 1933 and played for the next five years with skill, vigour and devotion.^[4] East Pakistan (Bangladesh) Government released an postal stamp in the memory of football magician in 1969.^[5]

References