Mohammad Aslam
Aslam on international duty
Personal information
Full name Sheikh Mohammad Aslam
Date of birth (1958-03-01) 1 March 1958[1]
Place of birth Khulna, East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh)
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1974–1975 Khulna Town Club
1975–1977 Bangladesh WAPDA
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1980 Victoria SC 47 (14)
1980–1982 Team BJMC 61 (30)
1983 Mohammedan SC 12 (7)
1984–1991 Abahani Limited Dhaka 123 (97)
1991 East Bengal 8 (1)
1991–1992 Abahani Limited Dhaka 12 (6)
1993 Mohammedan SC 13 (7)
1994–1996 Abahani Limited Dhaka 36 (16)
Total 312 (179)
International career
1978–1980 Bangladesh U19 12 (2)
1978–1993 Bangladesh 56[2] (14)
Medal record
Representing  Bangladesh
South Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 1984
Silver medal – second place 1985
Bronze medal – third place 1991
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Sheikh Mohammad Aslam (Bengali: শেখ মোহাম্মদ আসলাম; born 1 March 1958), popularly known as Aslam, is a Bangladeshi former professional footballer. He played as a specialist striker and was one of the most lethal marksmen in the Dhaka domestic league during the 1980s and 1990s. He gained fame while playing for Abahani Krira Chakra, one of Dhaka's two major football clubs. He was a linchpin of several league-winning Abahani sides, and was the league's leading scorer several times.[3][1]

With 177 goals scored in the Dhaka League, Aslam is the all-time top scorer in Bangladeshi top-flight football. He also has 38 international goals for club and country, although many of them came during unofficial matches and are unrecorded. Aslam has 14 official international goals for the Bangladesh national football team during his 15-year spell representing his country.[4][5] He is said to have scored more than 300 goals in domestic and international football combined.[6]

He later worked for the Bangladesh Football Federation after retiring.[7][8][9]

Club career

Early days

Aslam first came to Dhaka to participate in the 100m run, long jump and javelin throw events for the Team BJMC athletics team in 1976. Along with athletics he got involved with football, starting his journey in 1974 for Town Club in the Khulna Second Division Football League. The next year he played for Bangladesh WAPDA and earned promotion to the First Division Football League as the runner-up. While playing for WAPDA in 1976, he managed to attract interest from Dhaka's top tier.[1]

In 1977, Aslam joined Victoria SC in the Dhaka League. Although Aslam had started his career at the club as a defender, it was Abdur Rahim, the shrewd coach of Victoria, who saw the potential of a striker in him, and changed his position in 1979. After three years at the club, he moved to Team BJMC in 1980. Aslam came into the limelight with 13 goals for BJMC in his debut year, falling two goals short of becoming the league's top scorer. He was the captain of BJMC in 1981 and spent another year at the club before making his big move to Mohammedan SC in 1983. Nonetheless, after an injury-hit season, Mohammedan officials decided to release Aslam, with Aslam scoring 7 goals during his lone season at the club. In 1984, he was snatched up by Mohammedan's arch-rivals Abahani Krira Chakra.[10]

Years with Abahani

Domestic

Aslam reached the zenith of his career while playing for Abahani, as from 1984 until 1987 he was Dhaka League's top goal scorer for a record four consecutive seasons. During this time, he had Kazi Salahuddin, Samrat Hossain Emily, PremLal and Karim Allawi as his striker partner at different stages. He scored 17 goals in 1984, 18 goals in 1985, 20 goals in 1986, 14 goals in 1987 and 17 goals in 1988. His record was later broken by Muktijoddha SKC captain Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib. In the 1989–1990 season, he scored 11 goals and set a new record of becoming the top scorer five times. From the 1984 to 1988–1989 seasons, he achieved the rare feat of scoring a hat-trick in each league for five consecutive seasons. He scored 103 goals for Abahani in seven consecutive seasons until the 1991–1992 season. Aslam won three league trophies alongside a hat-trick in the Federation Cup (from 1985 to 1988) during his first spell at the club.[1]

One of Aslam's most notable goals came during the 1986 Federation Cup semi-finals against Mohammedan. Abahani trailed 3–4 before Aslam levelled the score by dribbling past three of Mohammedan's defenders and curling a right-footed shot into the net. PremLal scored a hat-trick in the game as Abahani won 8–5 in penalties. In 1987, during the league-deciding match against Mohammedan, Abahani needed a single point to clinch the title, and although Aslam scored, Abahani ended up losing 3–2. With Abahani and Mohammedan tied at the top with equal points, a play-off match was required. On 9 September 1987, three days after their previous encounter, the title-deciding game between Abahani-Mohammedan got underway; the high-voltage game ended 0–0. After the game ended, players and officials from both teams agreed to be crowned joint champions in order to prevent fans from attacking players. However, the Bangladesh Football Federation did not accept the players' agreement and decided to hold a second play-off match. Both captains Aslam and Mohammedan's Ranjit Saha were given a one-year ban, and without their forward Aslam, Abahani suffered a 2–0 defeat in the final play-off match, preventing Aslam from winning three consecutive league titles and Abahani their fourth in a row.[11]

Continental

Alsam left a huge mark in continental football for Abahani, scoring a hat-trick as Abahani defeated India's Gurkha Brigade 4–1 in the DCM Trophy in New Delhi in 1984. Aslam's five goals helped Abahani beat Club Valencia from Maldives 8–1 in the 1985–86 Asian Club Championship held in Colombo. With nine goals for Abahani during the tournament, he became the highest scorer jointly with PremLal of Saunders SC of Sri Lanka.[1]

In the three-and-a-half-decade history of India's Sait Nagjee Football Tournament, Abahani became the first foreign team to win the tournament, in 1989. In the first match, Abahani won 1–0 against Kerala club champions Travancore Titanium, Aslam scored in the 80th minute of the game, receiving Ranjit Saha's ball with his chest and beating the goalkeeper with a sharp volley. In the double league semi-final against Goa champions MRF in the 32nd minute, Kazi Kamal's free kick inside the opposition box was maneuvered by Aslam, who scored with a header. In the second match of the semi-final against MRF, "Choto" Munna scored the winning goal from Aslam's cross. In the final, Abahani took on India's Federation Cup champions, Salgaocar FC, with Aslam scoring the lone goal. He won the Man of the Tournament crown and a television set along with the trophy.[12]

During Abahani's 1991 BTC Clubs Cup triumph, they managed to defeat Indian giant Kolkata Mohammedan in the group stage, with Aslam scoring one of the two goals in a 2–1 win. In the semi-final they defeated another Indian team in East Bengal Club, with goals from Aslam and Rizvi Karim Rumi. Abahani went onto defeat Dhaka Mohammedan SC in the final.[13][14] Aslam was named the best player of the tournament with three goals in four matches, thus attracting interest from abroad. And as the Dhaka League was not held in 1991, East Bengal Club signed Aslam along with his teammates Monem Munna and Rizvi Karim Rumi for the 1991 Calcutta Football League.[12] After a few months in India, Aslam returned to Abahani towards the end of 1991. He was the captain of Abahani in the 1987 and 1988–1989 seasons. In 1993, he ended his first spell at the club by returning to Dhaka Mohammedan SC.[1]

Calcutta League career

He also played for East Bengal in the Calcutta Football League in 1991, but failed to make a significant impact due to a head injury he suffered against George Telegraph SC in the 1991 Durand Cup. His first goal for the club also came during the same match in which he was injured. Aslam's stint with the club lasted a few months after he only managed one goal during the entirety of the league.[15] Regarding his injury, Aslam said during an interview, "After scoring a goal against George Telegraph, their goalkeeper hit me so hard that I passed out. I was taken to the hospital."[16]

Return to Abahani

After a falling out with Abahani authorities, Aslam joined Mohammedan in 1993 and scored seven goals during his year-long spell at the club. He returned to Abahani in 1994 and scored 16 goals during his last spell at the club. Aside from Khurshid Alam Babul, Aslam is the only player to win seven Dhaka League trophies.[1] In the mid-1990s, many star players started leaving Bangladesh's top three clubs, Mohammedan SC, Abahani and Brothers Union for Muktijoddha SKC, due to the clubs forming a gentlemen's agreement to lower the players' salaries. However, Aslam alongside Monem Munna stayed at Abahani, winning them the league title again in 1992.

In 1994, Abahani defeated Kolkata Mohammedan in the finals of India's Charms Cup, where Aslam and Munna guided a new generation of talents through the tournament.[12] Aslam's goals did not dry out with age, as he scored nine goals in 1995 and finished second top socrer behind Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib, who by many at the time was thought to be Aslam's replacemnet in the national team.[17] Aslam hung up his boots in 1996, ending his illustrious league career with record 177 goals in domestic football in Dhaka from which 119 goals were for Abahani Limited, making him the club's all-time leading goalscorer.[1][4]

International career

Aslam was part of the Bangladesh U-19 team at the 1978 AFC Youth Championship, which was the first-ever international football tournament held in Dhaka in 1978. In December 1980, Aslam played for the U-19 national team during the 1980 AFC Youth Championship qualifiers held in Dhaka. Salam Murshedy was his striker partner, while other members of the team included Lal Mohammad (GK), Alok, Ajmat Ali, Sawpan, Imtiaz Sultan Johny, Hassanuzzamn Bablu, Ashish Bhadra, Anwar, Gaffar, Wasim Iqbal, and Mossabbir, all of whom later went on to accompany Aslam in the national. The U-19 team did well and finished runners-up (behind Qatar) and qualified for the main event. The highlight of the tournament from Bangladesh was the brace by Aslam in a 5–1 drubbing of Nepal.

He then became an essential member of the Bangladesh team in international football both at the senior and youth levels, making his senior team debut by participating in the 1978 Asian Games held in Bangkok. In 1979, he played against Sri Lanka as the youngest player on the national team during the 9th Korea Cup football held in Seoul. He scored the equalizer with a left-footed shot while trailing 0–1. This was his first goal in senior international football and on foreign soil; Bangladesh won the game 3–1. In March 1981, Aslam and the other members of the youth team participated in the first-ever edition of the President's Gold Cup, as the Bangladesh Red team (B team). The team reached the finals after beating a North Korea club in penalties (after a 1–1 draw), but lost 2–0 to South Korea XI in the final.[1]

Aslam was one of the youngest players on the Bangladesh squad during the 1980 AFC Asian Cup in Kuwait, which was the country's first time participating in Asia's biggest football tournament after qualifying with their first attempt. In 1982, He was the vice-captain for Bangladesh during the Quaid-e-Azam Smriti tournament in Pakistan and was also part of the Bangladesh team in the 1982 Asian Games held in Delhi, India. He was an integral part of the Bangladesh Red team during the 1983 President's Gold Cup, scoring once apiece against South Korea XI and Nepal. During the 1984 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, the newly elected national team captain Aslam struck goals against Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand, although Bangladesh failed to qualify for the main tournament.[1]

In subcontinental tournaments, Aslam had a major partnership with Ashrafuddin Chunnu, and during the 1984 South Asian Games, Aslam's goals against Maldives and Bhutan saw favorites Bangladesh reach the finals, only to be knocked out by hosts Nepal. The subsequent year, a star-studded Bangladesh team took part in the 1985 South Asian Games on the hunt for their first international trophy. Aslam helped Bangladesh cruise through the group stage, scoring a brace during a 8–0 thrashing of Maldives. In the final against India, Aslam scored a long-range goal; nonetheless, luck was not on his side once more as Bangladesh were defeated on penalties.[18] India's goalkeeper during the game, Atanu Bhattacharya, later told Aslam during his time at East Bengal, "Dada, you have ended my career!"[19]

Aslam's strike in the 1986 Asian Games against Nepal gave Bangladesh their only second-ever victory in the competition. On 27 February 1989, Aslam scored a bullet header for Bangladesh against Iran during the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Nonetheless, Bangladesh failed to make it a memorable draw, as Rumman Wali Sabbir missed a crucial penalty towards the end of the game.[20] During the 6th President's Gold Cup Football final, Aslam scored the equalizer against Korea University as the game ended 1–1, with Bangladesh winning the title on penalties.[21] Aslam was left out of the Bangladesh squad by Iranian coach Nasser Hejazi for the 1989 South Asian Games, a decision which was criticized by both media and fans.[22] The 1991 South Asian Games was Aslam's last-ever tournament for Bangladesh, as his career with his country ended without a trophy. He scored his last international goal for his country during the tournament against Nepal.[18]

Sheikh Aslam Important goals in his career
Match Teams Goals Result
Charity Match 1979 (Dhaka) Mohammedan Sporting Club* vs Mohammedan S.C. (Kolkata) 1 1-1
AFC Youth Championship Qualifier 1980 (Dhaka) Bangladesh Vs Nepal 2 Bangladesh won 5-1
3rd President's Gold Cup 1983 (Dhaka) Bangladesh (Red)** Vs South Korea XI 2 2-2
SAFF Games Final 1985 (Dhaka) Bangladesh Vs India 1 1-1 (India won gold after a tie-breaker)
Asian Club Championship (Final) 1985–86 (Jeddah) Abahani Vs Club Valencia (Maldives) 5 Abahani won 8-1
4th President's Gold Cup 1986 (Dhaka) Bangladesh (Red) Vs TPS Turku (Finland) 3 (Hattrick) Bangladesh(Red) won 3-1
IFA Shield 1986 (Calcutta) Abahani Vs Mohammedan S.C. (Kolkata) 1 Calcutta MSC won 2-1
World Cup Qualifier 1989 (Dhaka) Bangladesh Vs Iran 1 Iran won 2-1
6th President's Gold Cup (Final) 1989 (Dhaka) Bangladesh (Red) Vs South Korea University 1 1-1 Bangladesh (Red) won the title after a tie breaker
Sait Nagjee Football Tournament (Final) 1989 (Kerala) Abahani Vs Salgaocar FC (India) 1 Abahani won 1-0
BTC Clubs Cup (Semi-final) 1991 (Dhaka) Abahani Vs East Bengal Club (India) 1 Abahani won 2-1
  • Aslam was a Victoria SC player at the time. But since this was a charity match, Victoria authorities gave him permission to play for the Mohammedan Sporting Club.
    • In 1983, 1986 and 1989, Bangladesh (Red) represented the main national team.

International goals

Scores and results list Bangladesh's goal tally first.[2]
Key
‡ = Unofficial Fixture
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.14 September 1979Cheongju Stadium, Cheongju Sri Lanka3–1Korea Cup
–1 September 1983DhakaSouth Korea South Korea XI ‡2–2Unofficial Friendly
2.5 September 1983   Nepal4–2Bangladesh President's Gold Cup
–16 September 1983Kuala LumpurArgentina Primera B Metropolitana XI ‡2–5Unofficial Friendly
3.9 August 1984Senayan Stadium, Jakarta Indonesia1–21–2AFC Asian Cup Qualification
4.13 August 1984Sriwedari Stadium, Solo Philippines2–13–2
5.15 August 1984 Thailand1–01–2
6.18 September 1984Kathmandu Bhutan2–0SA Games
7.19 September 1984 Maldives5–0
8.
9.23 December 1985Dhaka8–0
10.
11.25 December 1985 India1(1)–1(4)
–20 January 1986Switzerland FC Vevey United ‡1–3Unofficial Friendly
–24 January 1986Finland Turun Palloseura‡1–13–1
–2–1
–3–1
12.26 September 1986Daejeon Stadium, Daejeon   Nepal1–01–0Asian Games
13.27 February 1989Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka Iran1–21–2FIFA World Cup Qualification
–21 May 1989Thailand Thailand B ‡1–1Unofficial Friendly
–31 May 1989South Korea Korea University ‡1–01(4)–1(3)
14.28 December 1991ColomboNepal Nepal2–0SA Games

Legacy and personal life

In 1986, Aslam married Mona Marjan after scoring a hat-trick against Wari Club in a league game.[23]

He was selected as the best footballer by Bangladesh Sports Writers Association in 1984 and by National Sports Council in 1998. In 1997, on the occasion of its Silver Jubilee, Bangladesh Football Federation selected the best XI of post-independence Bangladesh and in 2005, he was one of the 10 footballers honored by the football federation.[1] In 2000, Aslam was awarded the National Sports Award.[24]

Style of play

Aslam was known for his bullet headers and movement inside the penalty box. He scored many long-range strikes for both club and country. Aslam's heading ability was due to his early days with the Team BJMC athletic team; additionally, Aslam played volleyball before pursuing football as a profession.[1]

Honours

Abahani Limited Dhaka
Mohammedan SC
East Bengal Club
Bangladesh

Awards and accolades

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ফুটবলার আসলামের আসলাম হয়ে ওঠার গল্প (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  2. 1 2 বাংলাদেশ জাতীয় ফুটবল দলের জার্সীতে স্ট্রাইকার আসলামের ২৪ গোলের অতুলোনীয় কীর্তি. Kiron's Sports Desk (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  3. ↑ Archived 29 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine(President Gold Cup Football, Dhaka) (Retrieved on 2016-06-03)
  4. 1 2 গোল নিয়ে যত গোলমাল. Prothom Alo (in Bengali).
  5. ↑ "Bangladeshi football's golden boy". Asian Image.
  6. ↑ "Aslam: Hard work will make you a good striker, not facebooking". Dhaka Tribune. 31 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  7. ↑ "Football season kicks-off on September 10". The Daily Ittefaq. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  8. ↑ "Probe committee submits report to BFF chief". The Daily Ittefaq. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  9. ↑ "Aslam blasts BFF, Mamunul". The Daily Star. 22 February 2016. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  10. ↑ "এটাই এখন আমাদের ফুটবলের স্ট্যান্ডার্ড". jagonews24.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  11. ↑ Iqbal, Nair (21 September 2016). আবাহনী-মোহামেডানের 'সন্ধি' হয়েছিল যেদিন. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 Tapan, Nazmul Haque. স্বাধীনতার ৫০ বছর: ভারত জয় করে আবাহনীর ফেরা. bdnews24 (Opinion) (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  13. ↑ "Dhaka Club Cup 91". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 20 February 2003. Archived from the original on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  14. ↑ আকাশি-নীলের উত্থান. উৎপল শুভ্র :: Utp al Shuvro (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  15. ↑ রাজা এবার ছাড়ো গদি! ইস্টবেঙ্গলের দুর্দশায় পদ্মাপাড় থেকেই গর্জে উঠলেন আসলাম. The Indian Express (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  16. ↑ Majumdar, Krishanu. ‘ক্লাবের হয়ে রক্ত ঝরিয়েছি, ইস্টবেঙ্গল মনেই রাখেনি’, আক্ষেপ সেই বাংলাদেশি গোলমেশিনের. anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  17. ↑ নকিব- গোলের শৈল্পিক জাদুকর. Janakantha (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  18. 1 2 Blitz, Desk (2 May 2021). "SAFF Games gold medal, an illusion for the Bangladesh team". Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  19. ↑ বাংলাদেশের ফুটবলে সেই সব সোনালি গোল. Prothom Alo (in Bengali).
  20. ↑ Iqbal, Nair. যে ম্যাচগুলো 'আফসোস' বাংলাদেশের ফুটবলে. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  21. ↑ লাল দলের রাঙিয়ে দেওয়া প্রেসিডেন্ট গোল্ড কাপ ফুটবল. উৎপল শুভ্র :: Utp al Shuvro (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  22. ↑ একটা সোনা জিততে ১৫ বছর...কেন?. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  23. ↑ হবু স্ত্রীর চ্যালেঞ্জে হ্যাটট্রিক, ইজতেমায় বিয়ে ফুটবলার আসলামের. jagonews24.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  24. ↑ "Aslam to put national award medal on auction". Dhaka Tribune. 12 May 2020. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  25. ↑ "Aslam reminisces glory days of football". The Independent. Dhaka. 7 May 2020. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  26. ↑ "কলকাতার ইস্টবেঙ্গল ভুলে গেছে বাংলাদেশের অবদান" [Kolkata's East Bengal has forgotten the contribution of Bangladesh]. prothomalo.com (in Bengali). Dhaka: Prothom Alo. 3 August 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2024.

Further reading

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