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Mohammedan Sporting Club on Sunday, June 12 organised a special Condolence Ceremony at their Kolkata Maidan club tent, where the Club Management paid tribute to the “The Greatest” Muhammad Ali, who passed away last week in Phoenix, Arizona in the United States at the age of 74.
The Condolence Ceremony was attended by the club officials including president Sultan Ahmed, working president Jameel Manzar, general secretary Ghazal Zafar, assistant general secretary Ishtiaque Ahmed, football secretary Iqbal Ahmed, ground secretary Mohammed Qamaruddin and other executive committee members beside former India captain Prasun Banerjee.
“There was only one Muhammad Ali, no one like him ever existed and no one will be. Ali was not only a champion in the ring, but a inspiration to many beyond the ring. He did not only fought during his career but he fought throughout his life, A champion like Ali never die, he will forever be an inspiration to the world,” Sultan Ahmed said.
The former three-time World Heavyweight boxing champion who was known as The People’s Champion, visited Kolkata in December 1990 on Mohammedan Sporting Club’s special invitation. During his three day stay in the City of Joy, there was a few lucky people who got to meet the legend personally and one among them was senior sports journalist and commentator Zafar Ali Khan, who shared his experience of meeting the legend.
“Muhammad Ali never talk much, he used to do all his talking in the ring. Inside the ring Ali was a wrecking machine but outside he was very humble and kind-hearted, while meeting him I never felt that I was with the World’s Greatest boxer,” Khan said.
Beside Khan, Ishitiaque Ahmed and Nadimul Haque also meet the legend during his Kolkata trip and both said, “Meeting Ali is a memory which will last for lifetime.”
Prasun Banerjee, the first footballer to be elected to the Indian parliament, said, “During my playing days I took a lot inspiration from Ali and every sportsman should follow his career.”
“A legend like Ali is only born once in a generation and I would like to congratulate Mohammedan Sporting Club for organising such noble event,” He further stated.
Mohammedan Sporting celebrate their 125th anniversary in December 2016 and president Sultan Ahmed announced today that during the celebrations, the club will invite a famous boxer and will organize a special programme on The People’s Champion.
Sultan Ahmed further announced that Mohammedan Sporting will request the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to name a road in the city after Ali and a boxing ring will be created in the club and named after Ali where young kids will practice the sport with the dream of becoming Ali in eyes.
