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One and only prince of Indian football
Chuni Goswami (1938-2020)
It was then that the English poet TS Elliott wrote: “April is the cruel month!”
Really like that. At least in the world of Indian entertainment and sports. One after another shooting stars on two consecutive days. First Irrfan Khan, then Rishi Kapoor and Chuni Goswami the same day. Not only in Indian football, Chuni will continue to be the rarest legend of sport in this country. In the history of so many years, he is the only athlete who has made the country the best in Asia in soccer and has led the state in cricket to the Ranji Trophy final. No one else has this achievement, maybe not in the future.
Looking at his long career, it seems like Chunir was born to play. He was born in the undivided Bengal district of Kishoreganj (now Bangladesh). Chuni has been involved in soccer since childhood. At just eight years old, he played for the Mohun Bagan junior team in 1947. He was a member of the junior team until the age of 18. After that direct pass to the senior team. Ajanma played for Green Maroon. From 1954 to 1965: 15 long years. Mohun Bagan was the jewel in people’s eyes. He led the club for five consecutive years (1980-1984). He played his first international match for India at the age of 18 while playing for Mohun Bagan. In 1958, India won the match 1-0 against the Chinese Olympic team. It was then that Coach Rahim Saheb’s eyes fell on the ruby. He later played for India in the Olympics, Asian Games, Asian Cup and Merdeka Cup for a total of fifty matches. He has scored 11 goals for the country. Captain of the Indian soccer team that won gold at the 1982 Jakarta Asian Games. Two years later, finalists at the 1984 Asian Cup in Tel Aviv, India. That year also at the Merdeka Cup in Burma (now Myanmar).
How did Chuni play? What was your specialty?
There was a proverb on the field in the 1960s that if the ball fell on the ruby foot in the box, it would recognize the goal net. That said, the ability to haggle was extraordinary. The side dodge on the side was absolutely unmatched. It was natural to dribble three or four people together when the ball hit their feet. I have always believed that although it is a team game, people love soccer for its abilities. He used to say, ‘No matter how much you talk about team games, skill can never be lost in soccer. That is what makes the difference between ordinary and extraordinary. Skill can tell the identity of a footballer.
Retired from international football at the age of 26, he was in the middle of his football career. Before that, of course, he made his first-class cricket debut for Bengal in 1972-73. Batted with the right hand, with medium rhythm in the right hand. Chuni was one of the eastern and central team members who lost to Gary Sobers’ West Indies in one inning in 1986. In that game he won 6 wickets in two innings. Ranji led Bengal to the final as captain in the 1981-82 season. In the final at Brabourne Stadium, however, Bengal lost to Bombay (now Mumbai). He has played 46 first-class matches in cricket. He made 1592 races. With 46 wickets in hand.
Many people do not know that he has also played hockey for his Mohun Bagan club. Not only this, after retiring he used to regularly play tennis at South Club to stay involved in sports. It was hard to lose him there too. Despite being known as Mohun Bagan’s “son of the house,” Metho was always above football politics. He liked to be clean and glamorous. In a word, he was the eternal prince of Indian football. Although he has been associated with Tata Soccer Academy for some time, training has never attracted him that way. Among these, there has been a rare experience of acting in Bengali films. He acted in a Bengali movie called ‘Prothom Prem’. His fans spread across the country, not least in the entertainment world. Pran, Sachin Devvarman and Biswajit were fans in Mumbai during the game. Just like that, Uttam Kumar himself was among the fans in Calcutta. In addition to the love of countless people in soccer life, he received a call from an English soccer club like Tottenham Hotspur.
He has won numerous awards in his colorful life. In 1982, he won the title of best striker in Asia. The following year, in 1983, the Arjuna Prize arrived. In 1973, the Government of India granted him Padma Shri. He became Mohun Bagan Ratna in 2005. In the same year, he became the sheriff of Calcutta.
After leaving the game, he wrote as a soccer expert for a long time in Bengal’s first-class newspaper. The feeling of soccer was very strong. With deadly humor. He was very careful in choosing the words. I wanted to be a “perfectionist”. More than any specific strategy, personal skill attracted him to the soccer field.
Just a month and ten days ago, Indian football lost to another legend, Pradeep Banerjee. This time, in Karona’s panic, his friend silently headed towards Amritlok.
Maybe two people will meet in heaven very soon, face to face in a soccer conversation.
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