Olympian Rahman: A behemoth in Kerala football

Olympian Rahman: A behemoth in Kerala football

Thayatheri Abdul Rahman, better known as Olympian Rahman, is one and only footballer from Kozhikode, Kerala. As a child, Rahaman was always fascinated with football and stopped his studies as early as the 4th grade to fulfil his dreams of becoming a footballer. 19-year-old Rahaman marked his debut for the country against Russia in 1955 at Thiruvananthapuram.

He was a self made soccer star, groomed at various grounds in Malabar. After donning colours of Universal Club, Calicut, this deep defender of Independence Club, Calicut, played for Rajasthan Club, Kolkata and later represented prestigious Mohan Bagan, Kolkata for ten years, in all the major tournaments of the country.

He was captain of Bengal State Team when they won 1962 Santosh Trophy at Bangalore. He represented India for five years in Asian Cup, Merdela Football and Olympics. He was in the Indian team in 1956 at Melbourne Olympics when India reached semi-finals for the one and only time. Later Rahman turned as a coach and trained major teams like Kerala Electricity Board, Trivandrum Titanium, Kolkata Mohammedan Sporting and Vasco Goa.

He passed away at his native town of Kozikhode at the age of 68 on 15/12/2002. After his death the football lovers of Kozhikode asked for the establishment of a sports academy in his honour. In 2005 the Kozhikode District Football Association (KDFA) duly created the academy. The aim of the Olympian Rehman Memorial Academy of Football is to promote young talent in Kerala especially in the Malabar region.

The special cover issued to commemorate this great sportsman of Kerala features a colour portrait of Rehman against a background of the Olympic rings. The special pictorial cancellation is a line graphic sketch f the portrait of Rehman in his younger days. The stamp is of 19th Common Wealth Games Delhi 2010 issued in 2010

This special cover issued on 29-10-2018 ( KL26/2018).