Wadoo’s kick saves Indian football from disgrace, brings laurels to Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Kashmir’s known football player, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Saturday evening helped Mohammedan Sporting Club to lift the prestigious IFA Shield trophy after a gap of 43 years in front of a capacity crowd at the historic Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

Known for his defensive techniques, Wadoo stepped in and grabbed a dramatic equalizer for his side before the half time against the Bangladeshi side – Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club. Then, in a tie-breaker, he again proved his mettle by converting his penalty shot into the goal and helping his team to lift the title by 4- 3.

Mehraj was also adjudged as the best player of tournament for his overall performance. Ishfaq Ahmad, another football sensation from Kashmir, also joined him in the finals. Both gave out their best for Kolkata side in the title clash and assured that more than 65000 – strong fans have their best evening of their life for jubilation.

Barring the fans, no one could watch Wadoo receiving the Man of The Match award because the channel had instantly shifted to its regular fare, a Bengali blockbuster that had love, sex and violence.

“Most mainstream news channels dropped the news, for them a battered Indian cricket team mattered more than a soccer win. Very few knew India’s pride was saved by a defender who comes from a strife-torn state where guns and blood make more news than anything else. But it was more special for Wadoo, who, being a defender, doesn’t get the chance to score goals for his side. It was after 43 years that Mohammedan Sporting has lifted this prestigious title. They had last won it 1971,” Shantanu Guha Ray wrote in tadpoles.in.

Wadoo dedicated his trophy to his 11 months old son Muhammad Ahmad.