Anwar Ali eager to make comeback, awaits AIFF medical panel's call

The committee will make a decision on the player’s future in competitive football in the coming days.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is relying on their medical panel to make a decision regarding the future of Anwar Ali in competitive football. Kushal Das, the General Secretary of AIFF, spoke to Khel Now regarding the issue. “It's completely up to the medical committee to review and decide. We will get a clearance on the same this week or early next week,” Das mentioned.

Anwar Ali’s health has been a matter of concern for the Indian football fraternity in the past year or so. The 20-year-old defender was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition in 2019 and had been to France for further treatment.

Mohammedan Sporting Club signed the promising defender last month for their upcoming 2nd Division League campaign, as his contract with Mumbai City FC was mutually terminated beforehand. He had acquired a positive report from a doctor in Jalandhar, who stated that the centre-back could continue with his activities, as he has no pressure gradients and is asymptomatic.

Moreover, as a precautionary measure, his new club Mohammedan also decided to have Anwar Ali examined by experts at Apollo Hospital in Kolkata. "They (the hospital) also clearly stated that the player is medically fit to resume his footballing activities," a club official told Khel Now.

"The club has presented both the reports to the AIFF, to which the governing body has stated that their medical committee will re-evaluate the reports," he added. The official went on to explain how the apex body has instructed the club to bar the player from participating in any field activity that will put a stress on his cardiovascular system.

The AIFF is trying to ensure that there are no compromises with regard to the player’s health. On the other hand, Ali is keenly awaiting the results of the process. Playing professional football is important for the survival of his family that comprises of six individuals. His father herds cattle for a living and football is the source of a better life for the former Indian Arrows player.

Speaking to PTI, he explained, “I really don’t know what the reports will be, but I know for a fact, that I am doing fine. I have no problem at all. I want to play and make a career out of football. I have been training here (in Kolkata) twice a day for the past 2-3 weeks and I have not felt any problem.”

Anwar Ali will have an instrumental role to play in the Black Panthers’ quest to attain promotion to the I-League, if he is cleared to play. However, the ball currently lies in the AIFF’s court, as all involved await with baited breath, the eventual clearance from the federation’s medical panel.