New Delhi, Aug 17 - Not many soccer buffs, or for that matter the All India Foobtall Federation (AIFF), may have known that legendary football coach Syed Abdul Rahim was born exactly hundred years ago this day. Only a few of his wards remembered the adorable 'Rahim Saab' as his birth centenary year kicked off Monday.

Born Aug 17, 1909, Rahim was the greatest football coach the country has produced. Under him India played three Olympics (1952, 56 and 60) and also had their best ever fourth-place finish at the 1956 Melbourne Games. He also guided India to two Asian Games gold medals, in 1951 and 62 and passed away June 11, 1963, stricken by cancer.

AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco said the federation has not forgotten Rahim.

'We have a trophy named after him in the I-League. I am in touch with president in-charge Praful Patel to see what can we do in his centenary year,'he said.

For Olympians Mohammed Zulfikar, Arun Ghosh and his son Syed Shahid Hakeem, Rahim was not only a great coach but also a visionary, who scripted the golden era of Indian football.

During his 10 year stint as the national coach, Rahim's boys were tops in the continent.

But his wards feel sad that their coach never got his due.

Zulfikar, who was a part of the famous 1956 Melbourne Olympics team, recalled how he was spotted by Rahim at the Fateh Maidan in Hyderabad.

'It was in 1955 and I was playing for Hyderabad Sporting in a local league match. After the match, Rahim saab, who was also the state association secretary, called me to his office. I was surprised to hear that he was impressed with my skills and told me that if I want to represent India in the Olympics I have to play in the National Championships. We won the nationals, beating Mumbai and I got a call from him to join the camp in Calcutta.