What tea would you prefer? Darjeeling or Assam? Ali had asked Hyderabad’s Shabbir

During his lifetime, American boxing legend Muhammad Ali was the most widely traveled and best-known sportsperson in the world. More articles and photos of him were published in the media than on any other athlete. In fact, many people in far flung regions did not know who the President of the USA or Russia was but they knew who Muhammad Ali was and what he had achieved.

Almost every gym in every street in all cities across the world had at least one photo of Ali hanging on its walls. Such was his popularity that there were only a few countries where he was not invited and honoured. Wherever he went, he drew crowds. He had a magnetic charm. The word handsome did not do him justice. He was more than just handsome.

Ali came to India several times. But unfortunately, he never visited Hyderabad and so Hyderabadis did not have the chance to see him in the city. However, when he was an 18-year-old teenager, an interesting meeting did take place with some of Hyderabad’s footballers.

A meeting with Hyderabad footballers in 1960

It was at the Rome Olympics when the Indian football team got a surprise visitor to their rooms. It was a tall young boxer named Cassius Clay who came over to greet the Indians and have a chat with them. After talking for some time, he wished them good luck and left. Two members of that squad, namely S S Hakim and Yusuf Khan had recalled the meeting to this correspondent many years ago.

In 1965 his name became a household one when he defeated the formidable Sonny Liston to become the World Champion. Pic: Photofest

Later during the same Olympics, Cassius Clay won the gold medal by defeating Zbigniew Pietrzykowski of Poland. He was so thrilled that he wore the medal around his neck every day after that. He felt that he had accomplished something for his country. But after returning to the USA, when he walked into a restaurant one day, he was asked to leave because it was a whites-only eatery.

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He was so disgusted with the attitude of his white countrymen that he walked straight to a nearby river and threw his medal into the water. This is one of the well-known stories in the life of the greatest sportsman the world has seen.

Muhammad Ali helped racial integration

In 1965 his name became a household one when he defeated the formidable Sonny Liston to become the World Champion. In 1964 he converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. His worldwide popularity contributed in large measure to the acceptance of black athletes, and it helped the cause of racial integration.

Hyderabadis are unfortunate that he never came to Hyderabad, and they never saw him in real life. But one of the fortunate persons from Hyderabad who not only saw him but also shook hands with the great man was Shabbir Ali, himself a famous footballer.

In fact, many people in far flung regions did not know who the President of the USA or Russia was but they knew who Muhammad Ali was and what he had achieved. Pic: AP

When he was at his peak, Shabbir Ali was a star whose famed headers never failed to find their mark. If Shabbir Ali got his head to the ball, it went like a guided missile into the goal. He was honoured with the Dhyan Chand award and remains one of India’s top goal scorers.

How Shabbir Ali met the champion boxer

Shabbir Ali told this correspondent that in 1990 when Muhammad Ali came for a visit to India, he was invited to Kolkata by Mir Mohammad Osman, whose brother was a top official of the Mohammedan Sporting Football Club. The sister and brother lived in London and knew Muhammad Ali’s secretary. So, it was arranged that Muhammad Ali would go to Kolkata on a private visit but not meet any journalists or VIPs.

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The city was then called Calcutta and was the Mecca of Indian football. Shabbir Ali had by then retired as a player but had taken a coaching licence from India and also Germany. He met with outstanding success as a coach of several clubs as well as Bengal state and was the technical director of the Indian national team. In 1990 when the great boxer was in Kolkata, Shabbir Ali was also present in that former capital of British India as the coach of Mohammedan Sporting FC.

When the famous footballer heard that the world’s greatest boxer was to visit the city where he himself was living, he made up his mind that he must meet the former World Champion come what may. Speaking about that unforgettable meeting with ‘The Greatest’, Shabbir Ali said that he had always been a great admirer of Muhammad Ali and wanted to see him in person.

Priceless Moment: Former Indian football captain and coach Shabbir Ali shakes hands with the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali

“I made enquiries and found out that Muhammad was put up at the Taj Hotel. I did not want to tell too many people about my plan, but my friend came to know. My friend’s son named Maksud who was about 16 years old, was very enthusiastic to meet the boxer too. So, the two of us decided to drop in at the hotel and try to arrange a meeting with Muhammad Ali,” said Shabbir Ali.

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“So, we went there, asked for the room number of Muhammad Ali and with their permission, we went up to the room and knocked. For a long time, there was no response. However, after some waiting, the door was at last opened and there stood the great man himself – a three-time world champion, an Olympic Gold medal winner and the most famous sportsperson on the planet. For a few seconds I was speechless. Here was the man I had read so much about. He was such a magnificent person in many ways. Such a famous boxer yet dignified and courteous,” said Shabbir Ali.

Ali offered Darjeeling and Assam tea to Shabbir

“It turned out that Muhammad Ali had been praying. That was why he took time to open the door. But once we had introduced ourselves, Ali was very friendly and hospitable. Knowing that Indians drank tea at all times of the day and night, he asked us: “What tea would you prefer? Darjeeling or Assam?”

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“We shared tea and some small talk, but we did not want to keep Muhammad Ali busy for too long. The former boxer needed rest because he had a long and tiring schedule to attend. So, we soon took our leave and went away. But we carried with us unforgettable memories of meeting one of the greatest legends of the sports world,” Shabbir Ali concluded.