NEWSROOM : S P O R T S

Stormy teacups long ago

In the beginning was the fear. If the Man in the Street, unlike those Europeans disinclined to put the most charitable construction upon everything, doesn’t believe that all those Asian serialised successes in the World Cup were to the aid of the host continent’s betting syndicates, he will, naturally, think much of the games the telly keeps showing.

And then, how can the quality of soccer on display in Kolkata Football League fill up the enclosed grounds on the Maidan? Didn’t telecast World Cups hit our own brand of the game before? How can you see Ronaldinho for a month and then settle voluntarily for, say, Rasmohan Mullick? But as the mini-bus one was in swung Raj Bhavan-wards on Friday, with a screeching CSTC special on its right and a cab trying to wriggle its way through the even more congested traffic on the left, a lost-soulish collective groan from the Mohammedan Sporting Club ground testified to city soccer’s perennial quality. Probably a goalbound shot that had ended up hitting the nearest corner flag or a header the FCI goalie didn’t even have to look warily at but, come, or go, what may, the show was on. And then, all of a sudden, one’s mind went back to the sight of Shafiq - gimlet eyes, bushy eyebrows and a huge grin - at the railway station on one’s way to Howrah. Time was when he, like so many fans of the other clubs among the city’s dominating triumvirate, also carried a club flag - but 1975 may have put an end to all that.

That was one of Kolkata football’s fateful years, chronicled in fractious details right through the eventful season. East Bengal, gung-ho, were smelling their sixth successive League triumph chasing a record and Mohammedan Sporting Club, who had won the title at a stretch from 1934 to 1938, were determined not to let it happen. Mohammed Habib, accompanied by brother Akbar, quit East Bengal to find a new home in the club closer to Red Road. Syed Nayeemuddin, D Natraj, Habib Ali and Habib Khan too found themselves in Mohammedan Sporting Club and the heat was on. There was a deluge the day East Bengal met Mohammedan Sporting Club at Eden Gardens, the reigning champions staying 3-1 ahead on a vicious, wretched turf with Mohammedan Sporting Club pulling out after the break in disgust.

East Bengal couldn’t be stopped but the flip side of the coin was not just a shattering blow: it portended an equally illustrious club’s gradual fade-out. They won the League in 1981 all right and also proved the best of the Indian sides in the Nehru centenary meet but Kolkata football waned in quality and popular appeal as Mohammedan Sporting Club into decline, seemingly irreversibly. New sets of players and coaching personnel hardly altered the old story of brief sparkles and prolonged spells decline leading to near-total eclipse. Discards from the other big teams and a coach who was willing to stick his neck out seldom took them very far. Mission Revival was a pipe dream. And, as things went listlessly on, those in power didn’t seem to know in dreams began responsibilities. It is of no consequence that Mohammedan Sporting Club were less than authentic, or authoritative scoring the narrow victory in their first Super Division match this year. But the Big Ones must know what the club stand for. Shafiq does.

India should play positive soccer

KOLKATA, July 13 — India’s chance of entering the final phase of the AFC Under-20 tournament depends on the concluding group match of the four-nation quailfying meet, to be played at the Salt lake stadium tomorrow. Both India and Tajikistan have secured three points each. India will enjoy the home advantage and will have the opportunity of playing Kyrgyzstan in the evening match, starting at 6 pm. In the first match tomorrow afternoon, which begins at 4pm, Tajikistan will meet Bhutan. Bhutan have already proved their mettle in their maiden Asian tournament, when they stretched India, holding them 1-1 till the interval before finally losing 1-2. They then earned a point against Kyrgyztan. India are expected to register a comfortable victory tomorrow, and playing in the second match of the day they will be able to adjust the goal ratio. In major tournaments including the Fifa World Cup, the last league matches are always played at the same time, to avoid such a situation. But the Indian football authorities have drawn up a schedule which will allow two teams to take the field after knowing the fate of the other aspirants.

India have more talented players and it they should have easily qualified had the coach, Mr Islam Akhmedov, allowed his boys to play their natural game. Tulanga and Subhas Chakrabarty had shown that they could stretch any defence.Ashim Biswas, Amandeep Singh and Bungo can penetrate the opponent territory easily. The problem with our foreign coach is that he prefers to play a defensive game from the start and go for a late attack in the second half. The importance of the match should prompt the AIFF president, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, to talk to players and the coach tomorrow and see that they begin on a confident note and settle the issue in the first half itself. However , a lot will depend on the first match.

This is the time that AIFF should cash in on the post-World Cup tempo. Bhutan, who withdrew from the under-17 tournament at the last moment , know that even if they earn at least one more point then that will inspire soccer followers of the country. And they have already established their credential. The goal they scored against India was doubtless one of the finest in the tournament.

Sourav hails team spirit

LONDON, July 13. — An exuberant Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, who literally took off his shirt to wave it to a multitude of fans when India scored an incredible two-wicket victory over England at the Lord’s today, ascribed the victory to the marvellous team effort. “We played fantastically throughout the series and we deserved to win the final today,” the elated skipper said after India knocked off the required 326 runs with three balls to spare to script a historic victory. Ganguly said the victory was quite unbelievable but once they had raced to a 100 odd runs in the 15 overs they could smell a chance. “It was a fast outfield and a good batting wicket... We batted splendidly,” Ganguly said. Ganguly praised youngsters Mohammed Kaif and Yuvraj Singh for their daring rescue act after India were teetering at the brink at 146 for five in the 21st over. But Ganguly said it all by being at a loss to describe the experience. England skipper Nasser Hussain was graceful in defeat and said he had no embarassment in losing today.“The Indians played out of their skins... All credit to them for winning this one.” But Hussain admitted that the English camp was seeped in disappointment. “It is a very hard thing to swallow.”. Although, the skipper said his team had improved from the time they had last played in the NatWest Series, there was still room for improvement. The Indian board president, Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, today hailed the magnificent victory of Indian team as the beginning of the new era in Indian cricket. The BCCI announced a cash award, of approximately Rs 1 crore, for the victors.

When politics takes over

KOLKATA, July 13 – A player being sent back from an overseas tour - whether due to injury or as a discliplinary measure - is not new to Indian cricket. But a manager opting out midway through a tour is unheard of. The Rajya Sabha MP, Mr Rajeev Shukla, the current manager of the Indian team touring England will be replaced by Mr Ranga Reddy,the secretary of the Hyderabad Cricket Association tomorrow. Reportedly, Mr Shukla is coming back to India tomorrow for the Presidential elections to be held on 15 July. Perhaps the National Democratic Alliance member felt an urgent need to be in Delhi to be in the thick of things.

And as his political clout is well known - he may be a key player in the next Board of Control for Cricket in India elections - the powers that be in the board may not even think of taking any action against this willful act. A case in point may be the one of Navjot Singh Sidhu - who stormed back from England leading to the debut of present skipper Sourav Ganguly. While Sidhu was duly chastised, no such action seems to be on the cards for Mr Shukla. Last year, after winning a pitched battle against Mr AC Muthiah and regaining the BCCI president’s post, Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya set up the first-ever BCCI Communication and Coordination Committee and made Mr Shukla the chairman. The Indian team had left for England on 17 June and Mr Shukla was supposed to stay on till the end of the Test series and return on 9 September. But after receiving an SOS, he told the BCCI that he wanted to be replaced. Reportedly, Mr Dalmiya had asked him to continue as there was little threat to the election of the NDA choice, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam as the President of India, but Mr Shukla remained adamant.

But the question that hangs in the air is why a politician, whose priority is obviously not the game, is chosen as a manager for a foreign tour and is then allowed to leave the team midway. “True, Mr Shukla is more involved in politics but he loves cricket and for that he accepted the job of the Indian manager and chose not to accompany a Parliamentary delegation to the USA,” said Mr Jyoti Bajpai, the joint secretary of the BCCI and also the convenor of the Communication and Coordination Committee.
He admitted that at the time of selecting Mr Shukla as manager, the BCCI never thought of two managers for the same tour. Asked whether now the BCCI will have to think of a replacement manager for future tours, Mr Bajpai said it would depend on the situation and duration of the tours.