Ali braves father’s death to help Dempo grab important win

Panaji: If Ali Mohamed had told Dempo SC that he cannot take the field for the crucial I-League clash against Inter Kashi, away in Kalyani, nobody would have said a word. In fact, everyone in the team expected him to pack his bags for home after he was told that his father, Salim, had passed away.
Salim was the one who laid the foundation for Ali to become a professional footballer. His death, quite understandably, was a big blow for the Dempo defender, who had to make a tough choice. In the end, he decided to continue with the team, took the field and played a big role in helping Dempo register an important 2-0 win against the league favourites at the Kalyani Stadium in West Bengal, on Friday.
Ali’s father, aged 64, passed away on Wednesday. His final rites were completed on Saturday.
“I played for him (father) and my teammates, coach, and management who supported me throughout,” Ali told TOI. “There was a lot going in my mind, but I tried to remain calm when the match kicked off. At the end of the day, we wanted three points, and we got it. It was a good game for us.”
His father’s death brought back childhood memories, specifically when he first learned to kick the ball with his father in their balcony at home. It was at their Caranzalem residence where the Dempo defender fell in love with the beautiful game and rose to become a prominent footballer.
“He always encouraged me to play since birth. He used to always play with me before heading for work. All the memories came in front of me when I got the news. It was very hard to deal with,” said Ali.
The Dempo defender has played every minute of Dempo’s 13 games so far in the I-League and was central to the team’s success at the back as the five-time champions maintained their sixth clean sheet.
After impressive performances for teams in the Goa Professional League, Ali got his first breakthrough when he helped Neroca FC gain promotion to the I-League in 2017.
Soon, the 32-year-old was picked up by Indian Super League (ISL) franchise FC Goa in the player draft the following year. Ali went on to make 33 appearances for Goa until 2022. He then rejoined Dempo and helped them secure a berth in the I-league last season.
“My father used to proudly tell everybody about me at his workplace and his friends. Many players and friends called me to tell me the same. He was very happy with me as a footballer,” said Ali.