Pistol Pete Sampras is his all time favourite sportsperson. He appears as cool as the American tennis ace but unlike the six-time Wimbledon champion, he plays a team sport. Although he has yet not climbed that high in his chosen sport, Abdul Hakim M. A. is a star in his own right.
Abdul Hakim |
Modest to the core, the slightly built footballer agreed that since scoring the hat-trick against Goa to win Santosh Trophy for Kerala, it has become difficult for him to walk on the streets of Kerala without being recognised.
His hat-trick, including the golden goal in the final, had virtually changed Hakim's world.
From a footballer, the 5ft7in striker has become the footballer in his state. If not as famous as his state-mate Tinu Yohannan, who made his cricket debut for India last week, Hakim has at least become a most recognisable face in India now.
The soccer crazy Hakim is unruffled with the new status but agrees that the biggest and happiest moment of his life was to score the hat-trick and help Kerala win the Santosh Trophy after a gap of nine years.
Ironically, even before he wore the Kerala state jersey, Hakim, as he is popularly known, donned the Indian national colours during their World Cup qualifying first round.
"I scored a goal against Brunei," he pointed out proudly.
Hakim, who comes from Palghat district of North Kerala, said that he took to the game at the age of 12. But like all other parents, he adds, his father often reprimanded him for spending more time on the soccer field. "My father wanted me to concentrate on studies," he said.
Hakim, who will play for Kerala against Al Wasl on Tuesday (9pm), did continue with his studies and says it was his performance for Calicut University which gave him a real boost as a footballer and brought some limelight in his career.
But before that he came close to calling it quits. "I missed the bus for the under-21 district team," he said. And, that was a huge disappointment for the 23-year-old, so much so that he pondered for a while whether it was worth spending hours on the football pitch.
But a call for the university team changed all that. Then the next step was joining the State Bank of Travancore (SBT) and the National League debut with them. "I scored six goals in 13 games for the SBT to draw attention of the national selectors."
"The national league is the best thing to happen to the Indian soccer," reckons Hakim, who believes that his performance in that tournament got him a place on the national side.
Hakim is not only reticent but is more at home talking in his mother tongue-Malyalam, and of course kicking the ball around. Thus, his coach M. Pithambaram sat for the interview with him to help him communicate fluently.
Hakim, who believes that every sportsperson should indulge in badminton for fitness and footwork, was on the bench last year but Pithambaram decided to give youngsters opportunity to deliver. "I thought we will at least win next year but (pointing finger at Hakim) they made it possible this year itself."
And, Hakim made it happen in style. He scored seven goals, including the high profile hat-trick in the final. That performance has not only brought adulation at home but good offers too.
"FC Kochin, Churchill Brothers, Mahindra and Mahindra and Vasco Goa have made offers to me," he said with a broad smile, which indicated that happy days are here for this unassuming soccer star from Kerala.
