The Syed Ahmed memorial hockey tournament is getting better and better with each edition. In the inaugural edition in 2009, it was confined to Chennai district. This year it’s a state level event. “In 2011, it will be a south zone tournament,” S. Reehan Ahmed, son of the late Syed Ahmed, said.

“The idea of conducting an event in memory of my father was on my mind for a long time. The idea became a reality last year. I’m determined to keep the tournament going forever with the support of my friends and hockey lovers,” Reehan, who is an officer with Southern Railway, added.

Syed Ahmed, who passed away in 1993, was one of the best hockey players of his era. He plied his trade for ICF and SBI. Syed Ahmed represented Tamil Nadu from 1955 to 1965. Former international umpire Mohammed Abdul Nabi said: “I had played with Syed Ahmed. He was a majestic centre-forward. The way he used to dodge defenders is still fresh in my memory. Reehan is paying a fitting tribute to his father by conducting this tournament. These days it’s not at all easy to organise an event. Credit must be given to Reehan and his team for their tireless work.”

N. Chokkalingam, a former SBI officer, said Syed Ahmed’s game was magnetic. “He was my colleague at SBI. I never had an interest in hockey. But Syed Ahmed’s style attracted me to the hockey ground. His game made him a hero in office. Inside the D, he had no peers during his time. He was like a European in looks and manners,” he added.

Reehan can talk about his father’s passion for hockey for hours. “Many people have told me that he played his best hockey for ICF. He had a distinct style as a classic centre-forward. My father breathed hockey. His devotion to the game was so total that he didn’t bother to know much about the outside world. He always had a sense of duty towards hockey. He would spend hours and hours on the ground to train Madrasa-I-Azam students. He wouldn’t mind spending his money to buy shoes and sticks for the needy. He was a great human being,” he added.

S.M. Aejaz Mohamed, a retired superintendent of central excise, said Syed Ahmed was unlucky not to play for India. “He was an outstanding forward. The amount of power he would impart in his shots was awesome. I have no doubt that he had the talent to play for India. Unfortunately, the competition to break into the national team was so fierce those days,” he added.

Aejaz said he perfected his game under the tutelage of Syed Ahmed. “I tend to get emotional when I think about the days of Syed bhai. He was always there at Madrasa-I-Azam school to guide youngsters. Even pouring rain wouldn’t stop his training sessions. He wouldn’t mind to use his T-shirt to dry the playing field after rain. I will never forget the hockey lessons I learnt from him over a cup of tea at Madina, a hotel in front of the school on the Mount Road. I also had the honour of being his team-mate at United Gymkhana,” he informed.

Reehan is proud that he is keeping his family’s hockey flame burning. “Even though I wasn’t as talented as my father, I was lucky to play for an Indian junior team in 1984. I had also represented Tamil Nadu and Railways at the nationals,” he informed.

According to Reehan, the Syed Ahmed memorial tournament owes its success to the teamwork of the organising committee. “I will always be grateful to the support of my friends in and out of the organising committee. Without the help of Amjad Shareif, Irfanullah, Thomas Chouke, Minhaj Ahmed, Joshua, Suresh, Ganesh Pandian, Ashraf Ahmed and C.R. Kumar, the tournament wouldn’t be what it is today,” he added.

Reehan counts former Indian stars, Jude Felix and Dhanraj Pillay, among his best friends. “Dhanraj came to Chennai last year for the launch of the tournament. Jude was the star attraction at the valedictory function. This time both of them are coming for the final. Jude sent a set of high quality balls for the event as soon as he heard about the second edition,” he said.

Syed Ahmed would be delighted by his son’s service to the game he devoted his life to.