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Journalism of Courage
Peter Thangaraj needs no introduction in Indian football circles. But one gets the feeling that the man does need introduction, going by the sight at the Lal Bahadur Stadium, the venue of the football event of the 32nd National Games.
Thangaraj is arguably the best goalkeeper the country has produced and served India for the longest period 8212; 15 years. To top it all, the Arjuna Awardee hails right from Hyderabad.
And the fact that Thangaraj moves around the stadium unnoticed speaks volumes of the decline of football in the state, which could only rest on the laurels of the erstwhile Hyderabad Police team.
The Games have paved the way for the homecoming of Thangaraj who has settled down in Bokaro. Time was when Andhra Pradesh dominated the Indian soccer scene, the high point being the 1956 Melbourne Olympics where the State had eight representatives in the national squad. Thangaraj apart, fellow Arjuna Awardee Yousuf Khan, Abdul Salam, D Kannan, Hakkim, Zulfikar Ali, Balram and Hameed did the State proud.
8216;8216;I8217;m sure you wouldn8217;t have been writing home much about Andhra Pradesh football for decades. Overall, the main qualities lacking in Indian football are determination and dedication,8217;8217; Thangaraj said.
8216;8216;The football action at the Games has lost much sheen without the National League players. The All India Football Federation could have spared some thoughts for the mega showing by halting the National Football League for a fortnight. The motley crowd at the stadia for the love of the sport has been denied a decent display. Nothing would have happened had they altered the NFL fixtures.
8216;8216;Bengal and Goa are the teams affected most since Goa have four clubs and Bengal have three in the NFL. More importantly, Baichung Bhutia is missing the action,8217;8217; Thangaraj explained.
On the competition front, the lanky man says, 8216;8216;It8217;s just not football. Just kicking and passing the ball without any flair won8217;t make football.8217;8217;
Thangaraj had a bitter experience due to the organisers8217; goof-up on the opening day. On invitation from the National Games secretariat, Thangaraj, in the company of around 45 former players from various sports, was kept waiting at the Indira Gandhi Park the entire morning prior to their participation in the torch relay.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had announced cash awards of Rs 1 lakh to each of those from Andhra Pradesh who represented the country at the Melbourne Olympics. Thangaraj8217;s name is said to have been recommended by the state for the Padmasree award.
A regular at the football stadium during the Games, the three-time Olympian 8212;1956 Melbourne, 1960 Rome and 1964 Tokyo 8212; is in town on an invitation from the Andhra Pradesh Football Association.
