M.A. Ameer – A versatile and flamboyant soccerite no more
The demise of M.A. Ameer removes from our midst an outstanding personality and a class footballer who will be greatly missed by the wide circle of friends, footballers and fans of this country.
My relatively long and close association with Ameer both as a player and a pal gives me the edge over the others to comment on his football career.
As a soccerite Ameer had a successful football career from 1960 to 1970. He was a versatile and a fearless full-back who played for his country for an uninterrupted span of ten years. Showing glimpses of class at school level in the late 1959s he blossomed into a talented player, representing the Kings of school football – Zahira College, Maradana.
After leaving school he played for the glamour football club – Saunders FC at the young age, beside players in the calibre of Wilson, Soloman, Marcus, K.A. Premadasa, Issadeen, Eric Perera followed by Lionel Peiris, C.S. Fernando, P.D. Sirisena, Sivaratnam, Ananda Peiris, Edward Wickramasuriya and Judy Preena.
Ameer captained the Youth National team in 1961 at the Youth Tournament held in Thailand, Bangkok and the Ceylon Team in 1966 at the Aga Khan Gold Cup Tournament held in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). From 1961 to 1970, I had the privilege of playing with him at school, club, league and National levels here and abroad.
Ameer was one of the star players of the golden era of Sri Lanka football, who played with greats like M.M. Hassimdeen, Mahinda Aluvihara, P.D. Sirisena, A. Zainulabdeen, Edward Wickramasuriya, S.M Noor, P.H.S. Albert, S.P. de Silva, Bagoos Sourjah, Piyadasa Perera, Lionel Peiris, T. Halideen and to name a few.
He had a style of play of his own and was blessed with an abundance of skills, courage and soccer sense, the like of whom I have yet to see. He was one of the pioneers to play professional club football abroad. When M.M. Hassimdeen and S.M. Noor played for Mohammedan SC in Dacca (East Pakistan) in 1966, Ameer played for Dacca Wonders FC.
Ameer played a vital role in winning the first international encounter on our soil against the Pakistan national team in 1964 beating them 3-1 when M.M. Hassimdeen captained the Ceylon national team. Ameer also played an important role when they became the unbeaten champion at the Quadrangular Tournament held in Sri Lanka in 1970 under the captainship of Edward Wickramasuriya. I was adjudged as the ‘Best Player’ of this tournament.
May Anwar Ameer’s journey in the life beyond be of peace and harmony and may he receive the prayers and our blessings to enter ‘Jannah’ (Paradise).
- The writer is a former national football captain and national coach