Mymensing's rich sporting culture is evident in its history. It boasts the first football club of the country and also the first football tournament. But no appreciation of the region's contribution to Bangladesh's sporting tapestry can be complete without the name of cricketer Ram Chand Gowala.

During the 1970s, the left-arm spinner who got his start at the Panditpara Athletic Club created havoc for opposition batsmen by catching them in his expertly spun web, but he is now hostage to decrepitude and various diseases. The lifetime bachelor now spends most of his time with grandson Akash Gosh and granddaughter Othoi Gosh -- children of his niece -- at the tin-shed building at Brahmanpalli. For recreation he watches cricket matches on TV and indulges in chitchat with childhood friends at a tea stall in front of his house counts as recreation.

When this reporter visited his house yesterday, Gowala reminisced on his playing career and his memories of his beloved club -- Abahani. But his move to the club was affected by the darkest event in Bangladesh's history -- the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members; particularly his son Sheikh Kamal, who founded Abahani. 

 “I still carry the grief that Sheikh Kamal did not have the opportunity to see me join Abahani,” said a teary-eyed Gowala.

“The formidable Dhaka University cricket team came to play the regional final against Mymensingh and I took six wickets to beat them. I was introduced to University captain Sheikh Kamal. I can't recall the year but it might be the year before Kamal's marriage [1974],” Gowala recalled.

“Later Sheikh Kamal came to our Panditpara AC and offered me a chance to play for Abahani. But the killing of the Bangabandhu family on August 15 meant the move became difficult, and I felt very sad knowing that Kamal would not get a chance to see me playing for Abahani. Later, I communicated with Harunur Rashid Bhai to let him know about my promise to Sheikh Kamal. And since then I am an Abahani boy,” concluded a tearful Gowala yesterday.

Gowala joined Abahani in 1978 and played through to the next year before coming back to Mymensingh. He later rejoined Abahani in 1981 and ended his career at the Dhanmondi-based outfit. He also played for archrivals Mohammedan SC before joining Abahani.

The match between Abahani and Mohammedan in 1996 was the best moment in his playing career as he claimed the two important scalps of Sri Lanka's World Cup-winning duo of Arjuna Ranatunga and De Silva to beat Mohammedan. 

Ram Chand Gowala was initially a left-arm pace bowler but he later turned into a left-arm spinner on the advice of Mymensingh's notable cricketer-turned-coach Fakharuddin.

“Once I used to play in the circuit house ground and took wickets regularly. The ball swung automatically but I didn't have any knowledge of how to grip the ball. One day, an official of Panditapara AC asked me to come to the club and handed me over to coach Fakharuddin, who advised me to become a spin bowler. I learnt a lot from wizard Fakharuddin,” said Gowala.

“If I was 35 years younger, I am sure I could have secured a place in the national team and earned a lot of money,” said Gowala, who struggles financially to buy his daily medicine.

“Except a few officials and former players of Abahani, no one asks after me. However, journalists always ask. I am now meeting my expenditure from an amount the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association provided me two years back,” said Gowala.