Adam a true soccer legend
ESHLIN VEDAN
AYOOB Adam has been obsessed with football for virtually his entire life and remains involved in the game today through the Isipingo Soccer Legends organisation which is an affiliate of the KwaZulu-Natal Over 50’s Golden Oldies League.
Adam serves as manager of the team, overseeing general playing as well as selection. Brought up in a remote area known as Malakazi, south of Durban, Adam became interested in the beautiful game when he was seven years old and participated in five-a-side games on what amounted to a cabbage pitch.
In 1968, at the age of 15, he joined leading club Protea Power FC.
“The team was affiliated to the
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Isipingo Districts Football Association (IDFA) which consisted of other top clubs such as Coleens Ocean City, Isipingo Suburbs, Isipingo Hills, Malabar, Lincoln City and Kynoch Dynamos” says Adam.
Adam was a one club man in a similar vein to the likes of Steven Gerrard and Francesco Totti as he spent his entire career with Protea Power FC despite drawing interest from other well-known clubs. He mentions former England and Liverpool skipper Gerrard as being an inspiration.
“Gerrard’s dedication, passion and loyalty to Liverpool was just as I was to Protea Power,” recalls Adam.
During his heyday, Adam was a prolific goal scorer and finished as Protea Power FC’s top scorer during his first season playing competitive football.
He was subsequently selected to represent IDFA for 10 consecutive years and was appointed captain in 1980.
During that year, he led the team to the Inter District tournament final where they lost against Durban and Districts.
One of the highlights of Adam’s playing days came in 1974 when he was selected to play for the Southern Natal Inter-provincial team in the Kajee Cup tournament in Port Elizabeth
“The team that was selected to represent Southern Natal that year was officially announced at Curries Fountain just after Isipingo and Districts had played Durban and Districts in a curtain-raiser to the FPL Coke Cup between Manning Rangers and Bluebulls of the Old Transvaal” says Adam.
Since stepping away from playing the game on a competitive level, Adam has been devoting his time towards helping to develop and nurture the talent of the next generation of local footballers.
He helps to co-ordinate training and coaching duties for the Isipingo Junior
Academy as head coach and was named Official of the Year by the Isipingo Soccer Legends for his contributions towards the development of the game in 2019.
Sadly, Adam does not believe that local football is in a good state at the moment.
“There are no constructive junior structures in place.
“There is no development plan but a lot of talent can be unearthed if proper structures are introduced.
“Our local football structures are grossly neglected.”
The 68-year-old continues to actively work as a a sales representative for Furm Packaging.
His work entails him doing a lot of travelling across the province in order to generate sales for his company.
Family is one of the main priorities in Adam’s life.
He has been married to Shereen for 43 years and has three children, Sufaya, Rizwana and Imraan.
Imraan has followed in the footsteps of his father by adopting a keen interest in the beautiful game.
He currently plays for the Isipingo Over 35’s team.