~Ex-TFA cadet conferred with the ‘Footballer of the Year - 2012’ award by All India Football Federation~

Syed Rahim Nabi, an ex-cadet of the coveted Tata Football Academy has been conferred with the ‘Footballer of the Year’ 2012 award by the All India Football Federation. The award was announced yesterday by Mr. Praful Patel, President, AIFF.

Syed Rahim Nabi becomes the fourth Ex-Tata Football Academy cadet to win the award. Earlier, Deepak Mondal (a cadet of the 1998 batch) had won it in 2002, followed by Subrata Paul (a cadet of 2004 batch) in 2009, and M. Gouramangi Singh (a cadet of 2004 batch) in 2010.

About Syed Rahim Nabi
A product of the fifth batch (2002) of Tata Football Academy, Nabi is easily the most versatile player in the current senior setup of the Indian team. He started his career playing as a striker, then moved to midfield and then played as wingback as well. In recent international friendlies, he has been playing as a fullback but his ability to play in almost every outfield position, will always make him a very useful player to have in the squad.

Nabi’s club career started with Mohammedan Sporting but his career really took off after joining East Bengal in 2004. Except the I-League, Nabi has won almost every domestic trophy with the red and gold brigade. At East Bengal too, he has played in several positions and after spending seven years, Nabi became a real favourite among the East Bengal fans. With his football skills & sharp sense of utility on the field, he has proved to be a star of Kolkata derby.

He has been a member of the Indian team in tournaments like the SAFF Cup, Asian Cup qualifiers, and World Cup qualifiers and was also part of the squad that won two Nehru Cups and 2008 AFC Challenge Cup under Bob Houghton. It took him a while to get starts during the Englishman’s tenure, but in this year’s international friendlies, he started in a few games at left back.

About the Tata Football Academy
Tata Football Academy was created in 1987. It was the only national and Asian academy dedicated to the development of football during the period. In the past 25 years, over 160 cadets have trained in ten (10) batches. TFA cadets have represented India in various international competitions. In recent past years TFA has secured high value contract with premier football clubs in the country. The 1st batch of TFA started in 1992. The recent tie-up between TFA and Sheffield United football Club in 2010 has brought internationally acclaimed professional soccer training for its coaches and cadets. 

About Tata Steel and Sports:
Tata Steel is the only Indian company to invest in world-class sports facilities, create academies and maintain and manage international level arenas. The cadets of its Tata Football Academy, the nursery for the sport in India, as well as those of the Tata Archery Academy, the only one of its kind for archery, besides Tata Athletics Academy, have justified the faith that the Company has in the talent and ability of its youth. Today, a significant part of the Indian Football team, India’s best archers, some of its finest cricketers, athletes, shooters, a Grand Master and several national and international legends have realised their dreams as a result of the support they have received from TATA Steel's Sports Academies. Tata Steel is the only Corporate in the country to have been awarded Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar by the Honorable President of India. Cadets from the various academies here have further in life to have won honours like Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Padmashree, Dronacharya Award, Arjuna Awardees, Dhyan Chand Life Time Achievement Award, being Olympians, being Asian Medalists and innumerable medals at International & National levels.