HT Kickoff ⚽ Jakarta revisited, 60 years later

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Friday, 02 September 2022

By Dhiman Sarkar

Jakarta revisited, 60 years later

Ignoring the booing, they raised arms near the bench. This was their moment and nothing, not even an angry cauldron of nearly 100,000 people, could be allowed to come in the way of celebrations at the Senayan Main Stadium. Unable to sleep, they had taken a stroll to calm nerves the night before and had seen their coach doing the same. After the match the coach, usually stern and taciturn, would dissolve in tears

September 4, 1962 is the reddest of all red letter days in India’s football history. One worthy of a diamond jubilee celebration by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) which will be helmed by a former player for the first time.

India were runners-up in the Asia Cup and Merdeka Cup, an invitational tournament in Malaysia they would be invited till the mid-1980s, afterwards but nothing in its modest achievement as a football nation matched those 13 days in Jakarta. In conditions so hostile that Jarnail Singh, feared by all of Asia for his tackles, would have to sit on the floor of the bus so that his turban didn’t give away the India team, players led by Chuni Goswami had triumphed. They were not men, they were giants.

India after winning the gold medal match in the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta. (Source: ANI)

Indonesia’s anger had stemmed from an Indian official suggesting that the competition be called Jakarta Games instead of Asian Games since the hosts were unwilling to let Israel and Taiwan participate. Inadvertently, a touchpaper had been lit and Indonesia took out its anger on the Indian contingent. Many spectators did not stand up during the Indian national anthem, Singh is quoted as saying in Nirmal Nath’s book, ‘History Of Indian Football’. A sliver of support for India in the final came from the Pakistan men’s hockey team.

Best-ever national team

India had lost 1-3 to South Korea in the semi-final of the 1958 Asian Games. Revenge was four years in coming but signs of the best-ever national team forged by coach Syed Rahim came in the 1960 Olympics. The roster for 1962 had players in their mid-20s but who were not thin on international experience. Nine from the squad of 16 had played in Rome where India lost 1-2 against the Magical Magyars and drew 1-1 with France. So when Rahim had asked for a ‘tohfa’ on the night prior to the final in Jakarta, he knew he had a team that could win gold.

As Willy Meisl had pointed out to Indian journalist Beri Sarbadhikary, few had studied trends in modern football as deeply as Rahim, a headmaster, physical education teacher and physiotherapist. Meisl, Austrian manger Hugo’s brother, was speaking as a pundit after the 1956 Olympics but had been a player and manager too.

India’s start was anything but auspicious. They lost 0-2 to South Korea; ever-reliable goalie Peter Thangaraj had to be taken to hospital and Singh was injured in the second match against Thailand. Seeing so much blood, Goswami had said, “P.K. Jarnail is dying,” PK Banerjee recounted in ‘Beyond 90 Minutes’ (co-authored by Anirban Chatterjee).

But India beat Thailand 4-1 through goals from Goswami, Banerjee (2) and Tulsidas Balaram. Aroon Ghosh, who had first caught the eye in the 1957 inter-university competition, slotted into Singh’s centre-back role like he was born to play in that position and India beat Japan 2-0 through goals from Banerjee and Balaram.

The story of Rahim playing Singh as a forward has aged well. You don’t leave out a player a continent fears and with Ghosh performing adroitly as centre-back, Rahim decided to add muscle to the frontline in the semi-final. Playing with stitches, Singh scored but India let South Vietnam erase a two-goal deficit before Goswami sealed the deal with a solo effort.

September 4, 1962 is the reddest of all red letter days in India’s football history. (Source: ANI)

If Ghosh had comfortably stepped into Singh’s position, so did Prodyut Burman when Thangaraj was unavailable. In the final though, Rahim preferred Thangaraj over the man who had got them to the gold medal round. Amid jeers, India forged ahead; Balaram and Goswami combining to get Banerjee to score. Then Singh scored with a screaming left-footer after Francisco Franco found him with a long free-kick. India were, as Jaydeep Basu wrote in ‘Stories from Indian Football’, toying with the South Koreans but kept missing chances. Five minutes from time, Thangaraj’s citadel was breached but India held on to win 2-1.

Nine of India’s 11 goals had come from either of Goswami, Banerjee or Balaram. This was a coming together, a cosmic alignment of India’s best forwards in the way it never happened at major competitions before or after Jakarta. But it was just one reason to commemorate what was a brilliant collective endeavour.

Rahim died less than a year later. “With him, he took Indian football to the grave,” Banerjee said in his book quoting from an interview Franco had given.

IN OTHER NEWS

Salt Lake’s Super Sunday

(Source: Samir Jana/HT)

The season’s first Kolkata derby had fans of ATK Mohun Bagan (ATKMB) and East Bengal flocking to Salt Lake stadium on Sunday. Covid-19 had derailed Kolkata’s chances of hosting one after January 2020 so this group league match of the 131st Durand Cup was played with over 60,000 in attendance. ATKMB won but East Bengal showed why their fans can hope for a much better Indian Super League (ISL) season.

ISL schedule out: Another derby is due on October 29 and this will be the first in the ISL in Kolkata since the teams joined the league. The ninth season of ISL will start on October 7 with Kerala Blasters hosting East Bengal. Defending champions Hyderabad FC host former winners Mumbai City FC on October 9. League Shield Winners in 2021-22, Jamshedpur FC will begin on October 11 at home to Odisha FC. Full schedule here.

Aubameyang robbed, hurt: Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang suffered a broken jaw when he was attacked by burglars who had barged into his home. Auba and his wife were threatened with iron rods and guns. He is likely to be out for three weeks.

Herrera and Ruiz move: Midfielder Ander Herrera has switched from Paris St-Germain (PSG) to Athletic Bilbao. At PSG, the former Manchester United player played 95 games and added two French league titles, two Coupes de France, one Coupe de la Ligue and two Trophées des Champions to his list of achievements. PSG also announced that they have signed midfielder Fabian Ruiz on a five-year deal from Napoli whom he had joined in 2018.

Reagan Singh loaned to HFC: ISL champions Hyderabad FC have got right-back Regan Singh on loan from Chennaiyin FC. Singh played 105 ISL games for NorthEast United and Chennaiyin and 48 I-League games for Royal Wahingdoh and Salgaocar.

Yankees at Milan: Serie A champions AC Milan will be partly owned by the baseball giants New York Yankees. Yankee Global Enterprises, which looks after the team’s commercial interests, have been brought by Gerry Cardinale who is also the founder of the equity firm RedBird Capital Partners which agreed to a $1.2 billion takeover of AC Milan in June. RedBird also has a 10% stake in Fenway Sports Group which owns Liverpool and a stake in Toulouse in Ligue 1.

Akanji for City: Manchester City strengthened their injury-hit defence by signing Swiss international Manuel Akanji on a five-year deal from Borussia Dortmund. Akanji will provide the Premier League champions with extra defensive depth after recent injuries to centre-backs Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake. He cost City a reported $19.7 million and is the second player after Erling Haaland who could face their former club on September 14 in the Champions League.

Fofana joins Chelsea: Chelsea have completed the signing of France under-21 international central defender Wesley Fofana from Leicester City. Fofana, 21, has signed a seven-year deal at Stamford Bridge, the club said. The transfer fee is undisclosed but reports in the UK said Chelsea would pay their Premier League rivals $81.3m plus bonuses for the former Saint-Etienne player.

0-9 losses and sackings: Losing 0-9 to Liverpool meant Scott Parker became the first sacking of the new Premier League season. Parker, a former England midfielder, had also criticised Bournemouth’s strategy in the transfer market and was sacked four games into the season. He is the first manager to be removed in August since 2004. Also losing his job was Dundee United head coach Jack Ross. This happened after their 9-0 humiliation by Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

Investors Henry and Fabregas: Following former teammate Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal great Thierry Henry has become a shareholder of second-tier Italian side Como 1907. Fabregas will also play for them. Henry’s stake was not disclosed.

Hudson-Odoi at Leverkusen: Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen signed England international Callum Hudson-Odoi on a season-long loan from Chelsea. The winger scored four times and made 12 assists for Chelsea in 74 Premier League appearances. He has also played three times for England.

Paqueta for Hammers: West Ham have signed Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta from French side Lyon for what the London team said was an undisclosed but club record fee. Paqueta had signed an initial five-year contract with a one-year option.

SHIRTS WITH A THEME

(Source: Instagram / Adidas)

Indigenous roots from Mexico; looking back to 100 years ago by Germany; origami traditions from Japan; Spain remembering 1982 and gender equality from Argentina: these are some of themes in national team shirts of teams heading to Qatar.

Cavani for Valencia: Valencia signed veteran Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani on a two-year contract. The 35-year-old Cavani was a free agent after his contract with Manchester United expired at the end of 2021-22.

Pogba paid €100,000 to extortionists: World Cup winner Paul Pogba paid €100,000 ($100,000) to an organised group including his brother that was trying to extort him for millions, French officials have said. French prosecutors are investigating allegations that Pogba, now sidelined by a knee injury, was the target of extortion by his brother Mathias Pogba and childhood friends. They demanded €13 million from the France midfielder, and repeatedly intimidated him, claiming he didn't support them after he became an international star. An official close to the investigation confirmed to The Associated Press that Pogba told investigators he had already paid €100,000.

Saudi visas for World Cup: Saudi Arabia will offer multiple-entry visas to fans at the Qatar World Cup. People with a Hayya Card, which is reserved for ticket-holders and used to access Qatar during the tournament, will be able to apply for the electronic visas, the foreign ministry said. The move comes as Qatar, which has a population of 2.8 million, tries to accommodate an expected 1.2 million visitors during the November 20-December 18 World Cup, and as Saudi Arabia ramps up efforts to attract tourists. The Saudi visas will be in effect 10 days before the start of the World Cup and will be valid for 60 days.

Romero to stay till 2027: Argentina defender Cristian Romero signed a new deal to stay with Tottenham till 2027. Romero, 24, had joined on a season-long loan from Atalanta last August last year.

MLS player loaned to Villarreal: Villarreal signed Senegalese defender Mamadou Fall on loan from Los Angeles FC (LAFC). The loan runs through June 2023 with LAFC keeping the right to recall the player. Fall joined LAFC as an 18-year-old in 2021. He has made 35 regular-season appearances for the Major League Soccer club, scoring five goals.

Urawa Reds in final: Urawa Reds entered the final of the Asian Champions League with a 3-1 penalty shootout victory over South Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors. The semi-final went to the shootout after finishing 2-2 at Saitama Stadium. Two-time champion Urawa will have to wait until 2023 to know their opponents as the tournament is split into two geographic halves and the western zone will complete its knockout stage in February.

Barging into ref: Brazilian forward Henrique Dourado was banned for 12 months and fined $30,000 after barging into the referee during a Chinese Super League match. The former Fluminense and Flamengo star was sent off after appearing to deliberately run at speed into the back of the referee and sending the official flying. In 2017, the 60-million-euro Brazilian Oscar was banned for eight games after sparking an on-pitch brawl while playing for Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League.

Karima Benzema and Alexia Putellas with their UEFA’s Player of the Year Awards (Source: AFP)

Wins for Benzema, Putellas: Karim Benzema and Alexia Putellas won UEFA’s player of the year awards, making it a sweep for Spanish clubs. Benzema had been the favourite for the men's award after scoring 15 Champions League goals to lead Real Madrid to a record-extending 14th European title. Putellas won a second straight UEFA women’s best player award after helping Barcelona reach the Champions League final where they lost 1-3. Carlo Ancelotti was voted best men’s team coach and Sarina Wiegman the best women’s team coach.

Play of the Week

(Click to expand)

HEEL-ING TOUCH

There was a defender in front which meant Robert Lewandowski couldn’t shoot. So he scored by wrapping his right heel around the ball to score against Valladolid. Barcelona won 4-0; two goals coming from the striker they signed from Bayern this summer.

They said it

It does not take a lot to beat us. This is what I do not like.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel after losing 1-2 to Southampton in the Premier League

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Written by Dhiman Sarkar. Produced by Nirmalya Dutta. Send in your feedback to dhiman@htlive.com or nirmalya.dutta@htdigital.in

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HT Kickoff ⚽ Jakarta revisited, 60 years later

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