There is no better sight in hockey than watching the spectacle of Mohammed Shahid and his artistry. The sight of him meandering his way through multitude of defenders to score a goal or that precise release was simply breathtaking.
Everything had art written on it. We started our career in the India team together, in 1978. Hockey was an artistic game then. There were not many artificial pitches and not much of power play. We were the biggest exponents of artistic hockey.
There have been players like Hassan Sardar, Manzoor Jr (Pakistan) and Dhanraj Pillay, who had good control over the ball. But Shahid was the ultimate. We didn’t see Dhyan Chand but saw flashes of that kind of brilliance in Shahid.
He used to dribble past defenders like one would cut onions. Nobody could take the ball away from him. He used to dodge at high pace. Even at that pace, his twists and turns were subtle. It was as if he could read the feet movement of the opponents a fraction of a second earlier. If they went to the right, he would go left.
His eyes were always on the ball, but he still noticed the manoeuvres others were trying. I have seen him dodge some of the best defenders. They were mesmerised and could not believe that someone could do that to them. I think Dhanraj idolised him.
He was a great entertainer on and off the field. On it, people used to come to watch him because it was an unforgettable experience. He was also fun-loving. He used to listen to Mehdi Hassan’s ghazals. We had gone to Pakistan and over there, found time to listen to these songs.
At that time, Jagjit and Chitra Singh were not that famous. It was a time when ghazals were not that popular. In hockey parties, he used to sing ghazals and entertain all.
I think his young daughter’s death shattered him. That was the time he needed support. I think he did not get that. I feel that blow changed him. It was very sad.
Shahid’s demise is a great loss for Indian hockey. Fifty-six is no age to go. I was his room partner in the World Cup and Asian Games. He was truly great. His memories will live for a long time. P16
(The writer is former India hockey goalkeeper and Shahid’s teammate; Chak de India was based on his career)