Amjad Khan

May 16: The stick he brandishes leaves defenders stone cold with fear. Give him an inch and he takes a yard, leaving the enemy dumbfounded as the ranks of its citadel fall one by one.pThe lone fusilier is Amjad Khan, a terror on hockey pitches in Mumbai, now stalking the nation at large in the National hockey championship in Bangalore.

Bhopal-born Amjad could well have led fielders to a merry dance on a cricket field but he chose to leave defenders flat-footed on a hockey pitch.``Hockey has been God's gift to Bhopal and I chose it,'' says 21-year-old Amjad, who put hockey before the willow game at which he was adept.

Amjad, whose artistic and often devastating stickwork bears the stamp of the game in his native city, will play an important role in coach Clarence Lobo's strategy as Mumbai aim to regain the National Championship title.

The ebullient midfielder is expected to lend support to the attack spearheaded by Dhanraj Pillay. His ability to dribble past a host of defenders could leave the India star with space to deliver rivals the blow.

Amjad grew up in a hockey environment, sanctified by names such as Olympians Aslam Sher Khan and Gufran-e-Azam. His immediate influences were Mumtaz Malik, Junior World Cup star and NIS coach Heera Singh, guiding lights in Darjas Club where Amjad first wielded his stick.

Before long, Sports Authority of India (SAI) selection beckoned and the Amjad packed his stick for Nashik in 1986.

Academic considerations took Amjad to Mumbai two years later. His consumate skills, exhibited while assisting SAI in the Mumbai Fourth Division, caught the eye.

It was only a matter of time before the Khalsa college student was drawn into the top league. And it came in the form of an offer from Super League outfit Tatas, whose scouts Clarence Lobo himself, and former stalwart Nasir Khan recognised the fledgling star's immense potential.

The Super League soon buzzed with the forays of the medio who fitted Tatas' fluid gameplan very well.

And the faithful who attended were often taken to a bygone era when Amjad's stick conjured some magical goals.

He won for Tatas the first Guru Nanak Devji title last year with a goal in the final from fantasy a quick burst of dribbling that laid the defence waste, followed by a classic reverse hit that left the Navy goalkeeper dumbfounded.

But that wasn't his best.

Amjad reflects on another moment: ``I scored a better goal against Indian Airlines in the Obaidullah Gold Cup semifinal. That I struck it in front of my home crowd before whom I was playing for the first time after setting out a decade ago, made me very happy.''

Amjad followed his customary dribble with a scoop that sailed over the Airlines custodian and he still takes pleasure in reliving the strike even though Tatas lost the match 3-4.

Having played for Mumbai twice in the Junior Nationals, Amjad makes his debut in the Seniors' event in Bangalore, attempting to overcome a weakness or two in his game. ``Yes, my recovery is suspect and I am working hard to improve it.''

But the blotch hardly obliterates Amjad's credentials of being a potential match-winner and an intermittent appearance on the pitch is likely to prove ominous to opponents.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.