Meet Ishfaq Ahmed, the Real Kashmir FC coach seeking to leave a legacy

The name of Ishfaq Ahmed, one of the few players from the Kashmir Valley to have carved a niche for himself in Indian football, may not always ring a bell. However, the sturdy former central midfielder has won major trophies with Dempo FC, became the only player from his state to have led Mohun Bagan, wore the India colours and now, is chasing a dream with Real Kashmir FC as head coach.

The Durand Cup — the third oldest football tournament in Asia — being conducted across eastern India is somewhat bereft of sheen this season, with as many as seven Indian Super League (ISL) clubs pulling out over the uncertainty looming over the calendar. However, there is no dearth of fascinating characters like the 42-year-old Ishfaq, whose romance with the Durand Cup lingers from his playing days.

Dempo, a heavyweight club at the start of the millennium, had Ishfaq as a key performer when they won the Durand Cup in 2006. During his four-season stint with the Goan club from 2003-07, he won the National Football League (now rechristened I-League) twice, and a Federation Cup apart from the Durand Cup. “When I started out, the Durand Cup used to be held in Delhi, and I was lucky to win it with Dempo. We were I-League champions also that year,’’ Ishfaq told the tournament website. 

‘’I still remember the final at Ambedkar Stadium where we beat JCT 1–0. The Durand Cup holds special memories for me. Growing up, we always heard about the Federation Cup and Durand Cup and playing in them was every young footballer’s dream. Winning it was an unforgettable moment” Ishfaq recalled.

Done with professional football, he drifted to coaching and walked the hard yards as assistant coaches of a number of ISL teams like Kerala Blasters, and guided the under-17 Indian team to the SAFF Championship crown last year. Back in his home state, Ishfaq now wants to write a new chapter with young Kashmiris and prove that Real Kashmir FC can hold their own against bigger names. They are second in their group with one win in two games and are in running for a berth in the knockout stages.   

Born in the Barbar Shah neighbourhood of Srinagar in 1983, a young Ishfaq first discovered his love for the beautiful game at Biscoe School. While cricket dominated conversations in most Indian households, football was his first love and refuge in a state where peace was always a transient affair.

At just 17, he led YMCA to the state league title, becoming the tournament’s top scorer and giving a glimpse of the future. Ishfaq’s journey from the frost-kissed grounds of Kashmir to the professional circuit was nothing short of extraordinary. After catching the attention of scouts during the M.N. Dutta Ray Trophy where he was named the tournament's best player, Ishfaq signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), scoring seven crucial goals against heavyweight opponents like East Bengal, Dempo SC and Churchill Brothers.

As Ishfaq seeks newer challenges as a coach who has already proved himself with the national age group team, managements of ISL clubs will do well to keep an eye on him. The recent appointment of Khaleed Jamil as chief coach of the Indian team, who knows, may open the floodgates for Indian coaches in a terrain dominated thus far by foreigners.