Sheoo Mewalal Explained

Sheoo Mewalal
Fullname:Sheoo Mewalal
Birth Date:1 July 1926[1]
Birth Place:Daulatpur, British India
Death Place:Kolkata, India
Position:Striker
Youthclubs1:Morning Star Club
Youthclubs2:Napier Club
Years2:1938–?
Years3:1945–1946
Years4:1946–1947
Years5:1947–1955
Years6:1956–1957
Years7:1958
Clubs1:George Telegraph
Clubs2:Kiddirpore
Clubs3:Aryan
Clubs4:Mohun Bagan
Clubs5:Eastern Railway
Clubs6:Aryan
Clubs7:Bengal Nagpur Railway
Caps1:?
Caps2:?
Caps3:?
Caps4:?
Caps5:?
Caps6:?
Goals1:?
Goals2:?
Goals3:?
Goals4:?
Goals5:?
Goals6:?
Nationalyears1:1948–?
Nationalteam1:India
Nationalcaps1:?
Nationalgoals1:7[2]
Manageryears1:1977[3]
Managerclubs1:India

Sheoo Mewalal (also known as Sahu Mewalal;[4] 1 July 1926 – 27 December 2008) was an Indian footballer in Kolkata. He played as a striker and was known for his fitness, bicycle kicks, and goal-scoring abilities,[5] especially using the rabona kick.[6]

Mewalal's playing career with a reported 1032 goals along with 32 hat-tricks in both the official and exhibition matches, was ended in 1958 due to an injury.[7]

Childhood and early career

Mewalal was born in Daulatpur in Chitarghati Panchayat of the Gaya district (now Nawada district) in Bihar, to Sahoo Mahadeoram and Kusumi Devi. He spent his early days playing football with the seeds of a tar tree near the banks of the Khuri River, which flows through his village.[8]

In 1937, his family moved to Calcutta (now Kolkata). His father worked at Fort William, and the family resided in the Fort William and Hastings neighborhoods. Once in Calcutta, Mewalel's footballing talent was noticed by Sergeant Barnett who helped him join the Morning Star Club. Barnett would become his first coach. Known for his ability to shoot with both feet, Mewalal credited Sergeant R. Blackey for helping him learn the technique.[9] Earlier coached by Bagha Som,[10] [11] he began playing as a right-in and was eventually urged by the club to play in the center-forward position, considering his physique and ball-shooting technique.

He began playing for the Napier Club the following year. He made his name at the club after scoring an important goal in a draw against Grear Sporting Club. Mewalal also represented Bengal in Santosh Trophy and played alongside Sailen Manna,[12] and won the tournament in 1953–54 season, in which he scored a goal in their 3–1 win against Mysore in final. Managed by Balaidas Chatterjee, Bengal won multiple Santosh Trophy titles during that time,[13] and Mewalal scored all total 39 goals for the team.[7]

Club career

Mewalal started his senior career in 1938 with Kidderpore SC which was then playing in the 2nd Division of the Calcutta Football League.[14] He came into the limelight in 1944 when he scored the winning goal for the IFA XI against India XI.[6] In 1945, he joined the 1st Division club Aryans, one of the oldest clubs in the country.[15] It was his hat-trick for Aryans in the same year against Mohun Bagan A.C. in a Calcutta league match that impressed the then Mohun Bagan captain Sailen Manna. Mewalal also appeared with another Calcutta Football League side George Telegraph.[16]

In 1946, he joined Mohun Bagan and played under captaincy of Manna. In 1947, he joined the Eastern Railway Football Club. After spending eight years with them, he joined BNR Football Club.[6] In 1958, while playing in an Inter-Railway tournament in Kharagpur, he broke his knee. This incident ended Mewalal's illustrious 20-year career.

During his club career, Mewalel scored more than 150 goals in the local league. He also scored 39 goals—including five hat-tricks—for BNR in the Santosh Trophy competition. Mewalal was the top scorer in the Calcutta Football League on four occasions. He achieved this feat in 1949, 1951, and 1954 for Eastern Railways and in 1958 for BNR.[17] He also scored a record of 32 hat-tricks in local football tournaments, a record unbroken to this day. Mewalal scored 1032 goals in his career, in official and unofficial games.[18]

International career

Playing for the India national team, Mewalal's first major tournament was the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.[19] [20] [21] As part of the preparation for Olympics, he went to Europe with the national team in July, that won matches against English teams like Pinner F.C., Hayes F.C. and Alexandra Park FC.[22] [23] [24] In the Olympics, Indian team managed by Balaidas Chatterjee,[25] [26] went down 1–2 to France.[27] [28] [29] Following the Olympics, the Talimeren Ao led team played exhibition games,[30] winning a game against the Dutch club AFC Ajax 5–1.[31] He emerged as the top scorer in these games. Mewalal became part of the prominent Indian team during the "golden era" of Indian football,[32] managed by Hyderabad City Police head coach Syed Abdul Rahim, became one of the best teams in Asia.[33] [34] [35]

In March 1951, at the inaugural 1951 Asian Games in New Delhi, he finished as the top scorer with four goals, with India winning the gold medal.[36] [37] Mewalal and his team defeated Iran 1–0 in the gold medal match to gain their first trophy.[38] He was also a part of the team that competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He was also part of the national team that toured to several European countries in the late 1940s and played against teams like Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, in which he netted six goals.[39] He later participated in the team's tours of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Thailand during the 1950s.[6]

Mewalel was the first player after independence to score a hat-trick for India in a 4–0 victory over Burma in the 1952 Colombo Quadrangular Tournament.[40] [41] [42]

Managerial career

In the mid-1970s, Mewalal became interim manager of India national football team and guided them achieving third place in 1977 King's Cup.[43] He also worked as a trainer in the coaching camp formed by Russa United Club in Tollygunge in the 1990s.[44]

Personal life

Mewalal married Laxmi Devi Lal in 1944 at the age of 18. They had three children together.

He was admitted to a Kolkata hospital on 14 November 2008 after suffering from pneumonia. Diagnosed with a gallstone, he was again admitted on 8 December and was operated upon on 19 December, after which he was placed on a liquid diet. He died on 27 December.[45]

Honours

Player

India

Mohun Bagan

1947[45]

Bengal

1950–51, 1953–54[45]

Aryan

Individual

Manager

India

See also

References

Cited sources

Bibliography

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Player: Sheoo Mewalal. ifawb.com. Indian Football Association. Kolkata. 6 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20221127195136/https://ifawb.org/sheoo-mewala/. 27 November 2022.
  2. Web site: Subrata. Dey. India — Record International Players. https://web.archive.org/web/20190321143659/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/india-recintlp.html. 21 March 2019. RSSSF. 22 August 2021.
  3. Web site: The Senior National Team at 1977 Kings Cup . indiafootball.de . IndiaFootball . Arunava . Chaudhuri . 30 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160819214653/http://indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1977kingscup.html . 19 August 2016 . dead .
  4. Web site: Eastern Railway Sports Club Kolkata – WEST BENGAL Famous Players. Kolkata Football. 12 February 2013. 14 February 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130214065523/http://www.kolkatafootballs.com/easternrail.html.
  5. Web site: Was Inder Singh India's greatest forward?. theawayend.co. Kalpanthu's Vuvuzela. The Away End. 22 September 2021. 28 October 2022. K. G.. Raghunandanan. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127151014/https://theawayend.co/2021/09/22/was-inder-singh-indias-greatest-forward/. 27 January 2022.
  6. Web site: Amoy. Ghoshal. Indian Legend Sahu Mewalal Passes Away. www.goal.com. Goal. 28 December 2008. 28 December 2008. 28 December 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081228135218/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2008/12/27/1030388/indian-legend-sahu-mewalal-passes-away.
  7. Web site: Remembering Sheoo Mewalal: A Thousand Goals in Apathy. theawayend.co. Flying Goalie. The Away End. 24 May 2020. 28 October 2022. Rahim. https://web.archive.org/web/20210922213533/https://theawayend.co/2020/05/24/sheoo-mewalal-a-thousand-goals-in-apathy/. 22 September 2021.
  8. Web site: Debjit. Lahiri. Remembering India's most prolific centre forward - Sahoo Mewalal. sportskeeda.com. Sportskeeda. 30 October 2012. 20 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141020191438/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/remembering-indias-most-prolific-centre-forward-sahoo-mewalal. 20 October 2014.
  9. Web site: Sengupta, Somnath . Legends Of Indian Football : Sheoo Mewalal . thehardtackle.com . 27 December 2012 . 20 October 2014 . 28 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141028130451/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/legends-of-indian-football-sheoo-mewalal/ . live .
  10. Web site: ভাইপোকে পোস্টে বেঁধে লাথি মেরে ছিলেন স্যার দুখিরাম মজুমদার…. Xtratime Bangla. Webdesk. xtratimebangla.in. Xtratime Bangla. bn. Sir Dukhiram Majumdar tied his nephew to a post and kicked him.... Kolkata. 21 April 2020. 21 October 2022. 21 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221021061329/https://xtratimebangla.in/sir-dukhiram-majumder-kicked-his-nephew-by-tieing-up-with-a-lamp-post/.
  11. Web site: A 19th century visionary: The legend behind one of India's first football scouts. Atanu. Mitra. scroll.in. Scroll. en. Kolkata. 9 October 2017. 21 October 2022. 23 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211023142230/https://scroll.in/field/852994/a-19th-century-visionary-the-legend-behind-one-of-indias-first-football-scouts.
  12. Web site: Novy. Kapadia. Memorable moments in the Santosh Trophy. www.sportskeeda.com. Sportskeeda. 27 May 2012. 7 March 2021. 12 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210412140304/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/memorable-moments-in-the-santosh-trophy-2.
  13. Web site: Mohun Bagan Ratna — Late Balaidas Chatterjee to receive the award posthumously. www.mohunbaganac.com. Mohun Bagan Athletic Club. 26 July 2013. 28 September 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035503/http://www.mohunbaganac.com/interview-detail/mohun-bagan-ratna-late-balaidas-chatterjee-to-receive-the-award-posthumousl. 4 March 2016. dead.
  14. Web site: IFA (WB) – Team: KIDDERPORE SC. ifawb.org. Indian Football Association. 17 September 2022. 20 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220920170955/https://ifawb.org/team/kidderpore-sc/.
  15. Web site: Somnath. Sengupta. Aryan Club — Rising From the Ashes. 16 December 2010. thehardtackle.com. The Hard Tackle. 21 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20120114063049/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2010/aryan-club-rising-from-the-ashes/. 14 January 2012.
  16. Web site: ফুটবলার তুলে আনতে জেলামুখী জর্জ টেলিগ্রাফ স্পোর্টস ক্লাব. insidesports.in. Inside Sports Bengali. bn. District oriented George Telegraph Sports Club to pick up footballers. Kolkata. 18 July 2021. 22 October 2022. 22 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221022070623/https://insidesports.in/archives/1892.
  17. Web site: ইস্টার্ন রেলওয়ে ফুটবল ক্লাব — ১৪১ বছরের পুরনো একটি ক্লাবের ইতিহাস ও ঐতিহ্য. Eastern Railway Football Club — History and heritage of a 141-year-old club. archives.anandabazar.com. Anandabazar Patrika. Bengali. 21 December 2013. 24 March 2023. Kolkata. Rajat. Karmakar. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127103722/http://archives.anandabazar.com/e_kolkata/2013/december/anache_kanache.html. 27 January 2022.
  18. Web site: Remembering India's most prolific centre forward — Sahoo Mewalal . sportskeeda.com . 30 October 2012 . 20 October 2014 . 20 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141020191438/http://www.sportskeeda.com/football/remembering-indias-most-prolific-centre-forward-sahoo-mewalal .
  19. Web site: Sheoo Mewalal . Olympedia . 17 October 2021 . 17 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211017194309/https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/25816 . live .
  20. Web site: "India's greatest footballer" (about Sailen Manna). hinduonnet.com. Sportstar. The Hindu. 15 April 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20070108120620/http://www.hinduonnet.com/tss/tss2915/stories/20060415012103900.htm. 8 January 2007. S. Patronobish. Amitabha. Das Sharma.
  21. Web site: Indian football at the Olympics: The complete history. Utathya. Nag. olympics.com. The Olympics. en. 3 February 2022. 18 October 2022. 13 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221013161643/https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/indian-football-team-national-olympics-history-1948-1952-1956-1960.
  22. News: Dutta. Anindya. When India almost beat France at football . sportstar.thehindu.com . . 16 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190918034403/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/when-india-almost-beat-france-at-football-olympics-1948-world-cup-1950-first-indian-football-team-why-india-does-not-qualify-for-world-cup/article24573413.ece . 18 September 2019 .
  23. Web site: Morrison . Neil . Indian Olympic team tour of Europe 1948 . 19 September 2019 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20190310015200/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/indiaoly-eurotour48.html . 10 March 2019 .
  24. Web site: Daniel . Chris Punnukattu . India's 1948 Europe tour & the first international match . blog.cpdfootball.de . 23 March 2013 . 18 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180928044121/http://blog.cpdfootball.de/2013/03/23/exclusive-indias-1948-europe-tour-the-first-international-match/ . 28 September 2018 .
  25. Web site: Balai Das Chatterjee is Mohun Bagan Ratna 2013. 26 February 2020. 26 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200226015358/http://www.mohunbaganclub.com/Balai-Das-Chatterjeea/. Mohun Bagan Athletic Club.
  26. Web site: Balaidas Chatterjee: MOHUN BAGAN RATNA 2013. 26 February 2020. 26 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200226015358/https://themohunbaganac.com/jarnail-singh-2/. themohunbaganac.com.
  27. Web site: France — India. https://web.archive.org/web/20091022083853/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=512/edition=197049/matches/match=32358/report.html. dead. 22 October 2009. FIFA. 1 March 2014.
  28. Web site: Olympic Football Tournament 1948 (National Squads) . 5 November 2014 . 27 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141027113228/http://www.linguasport.com/futbol/internacional/olimpiadas/1948_LONDON_SQUADS.htm .
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  33. Web site: Somnath . Sengupta . Legends of Indian Football: Rahim Saab . www.thehardtackle.com . The Hard Tackle . 26 December 2010 . 20 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110615042007/http://www.thehardtackle.com/index.php/legends-of-indian-football-rahim-saab/ . 15 June 2011 . dead.
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  40. https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/international-hattrick-indian-footballers-sunil-chhetri/article31493307.ece/amp/ International hat-tricks scored by Indian footballers
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