Hakim Saab, A Towering Figure In Indian Football Who Represented In 1960 Rome Olympics, Dies At 82

Hakim Saab, India's footballer, and coach dies at the age of 82. The Indian football world will always remember the man as a great administrator and player.

SS Hakim recieves Dhyan Chand Award in 2017. (File Photo/ Getty Images)

Syed Shahid Hakim, fondly known as Hakim saab in India lost his life at the age of 82 on Sunday. Hakim saab was a footballer who was part of India's 1960 Rome Olympics squad. It was the last time that India played football in the Olympics. 

SS Hakim suffered a cardiac arrest that led to his death.“He suffered a cardiac arrest at 8 am today and passed away at 8.30 am. He has been getting treatment after he was admitted to the hospital two days ago following the first stroke,” Hakim saab's wife told Sportstar on Sunday.

Indian football will miss you Hakim sahab🙏

Thanks to his narration during the time spent with him, I gained an in-depth understanding of his legendary father Rahim sahab & #Hyderabad football#Telangana #SSHakim #IndianFootball #Kolkata #FIFA @theafcdotcom #Asia #India pic.twitter.com/OlHYuwVkyv

— Mohammad Amin (@mdamins) August 22, 2021

Hakim was a FIFA badge holder international referee who had officiated in 33 games including the 1988 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. He was Regional Director of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and also worked as a Project Director in charge of scouting before the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup. India's Jeckson Singh had scored for India in that World Cup. Thus, his career as a sports administrator in India was a prolonged one. 

He could not play in the 1960 Rome Olympics as his own father, Syed Abdul Rahim, was the coach of that team. Plus, Hakim Saab played as a half-back and there were some formidable players in that position for India. Mariappa Kempaiah, Ram Bahadur, Prashanta Sinha, were all half-backs and were preferred over SS Hakim in the team. “I was not in the starting XI. The team was packed with heavyweights; only in case of an injury to some of the big names, players like me had a chance in the Rome Olympics," Hakim saab had told Sportstar in a recent interview. 

Condolence messages poured in from all sections of society:

RIP SS Hakim Saab. I learnt a lot about you while researching for my role as your father, Football coaching Legend SA Rahim in Maidaan. Today Indian Football loses an important leg.#IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/nlY66Ka8nC

— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) August 22, 2021

Hakim Saab coached Mahindra and Mahindra, Salgaocar SC, Hindustan FC, and Bengal Mumbai Club at various points in his career. He won the Durand Cup with Mahindra and Mahindra in 1998.  He was also conferred with the prestigious Dhyan Chand Award.