Mohammad Akbar, the renowned striker from Hyderabad who still holds the 46-year record of scoring a goal in a derby against East Bengal in 17 seconds is now in Hyderabad. The 'Chote Miyan' of Indian football who now resides in a small town in New York State comes to his birthplace for around six months every year. The 70-year-old former international striker, after saying goodbye to his career, Akbar was associated with coaching for almost 10 long years. Between 1990 and 2000, Akbar was the coach of junior and senior teams of Andhra Pradesh for the Santosh Trophy. He was also associated with Andhra Pradesh Football Association as well as the All India Football Federation.

However, while speaking over the phone Akbar did not sound happy. The key reason is his legendary elder brother, Mohammad Habib's severity of illness. The former international striker who glorified all three giants of Kolkata football, East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Mohammedan Sporting along with India, helping the country to win the bronze medal in the 1970 Asian Games, has been suffering from Parkinson's disease for around last 10 years. But, according to Akbar, the severity of Parkinson's is growing fast. 

Akbar lamented saying, "Habib Bhai cannot identify even me sometimes. I repeatedly identify myself, standing in front of him, and then he recognizes me. I cannot explain how much painful it is. I was his most beloved human being for so long years. The doctors have stopped inserting strong medicines already. They have let us know that the patient might collapse at any time, and can suffer from a 'brain stroke'. For most of the time, he is seen on the bed." Akbar was also vocal against the negligence they have faced from football's ruling bodies in India. He infuriated, "It was approximately Rs 70 thousand, Habib-da received from the previous body of AIFF and that amount was given as the medical bills. Nobody has so far come forward with fixed, monthly financial assistance. Habib's son stays abroad and bears the maximum expenses of his father's disease. Otherwise, the situation would have been worse. The AIFF or even the clubs that we had represented must create a benevolent fund for the country's former international footballers. This can be the only way of paying true respect to them."