Sattar is now Mohun Bagan Ratna, an award he deserved in 50s

Kolkata, Jul 28 (UNI) Mohammad Abdus Sattar, who helped Mohun Bagan win the Durand and Rovers Cup in the fifties for the first time, will be conferred the ''Mohun Bagan Ratna'' tomorrow to mark the club's first IFA Shield victory in 1911.

The National Club of India, Mohun Bagan, celebrates July 29 as ''Mohun Bagan Day'' to mark its win against East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1 in the IFA Shield final, a glorious achievement for any native club which played bare feet against domination of British soccer clubs.

Bagan's Operation Manager Prince Rufus today said the club will honour India captain Baichung Bhutia, the club striker and the Mohun Bagan junior side, besides Sattar.

Sattar (83), who is now seriously ill because of old age, arrived here in 1949 from Bangalore to play for Mohammedan Sporting and the following year he switched over to Mohun Bagan to for a decade.

He was also the livewire in India's first championship win in the inaugural Asian Games in 1951and Helsinki Olympics the following year. In club tournaments he had helped Mohun Bagan win Durand for the first time in 1952 and Rovers Cup in 1955.

He also represented the Indian side in the four-nation championship-India, Pakistan, Burma and Sri-Lanka in 1953 and 1954.

Before retirement, he also coached Mohammedan Sporting to win Calcutta First Division League in 1981 and Federation cup two years later.

UNI PC KK AB BD1702