Tragedy after the triumph

The worst was feared as players of both teams sat on the ground offering prayers as Junior was being treated. But a pall of gloom descended at the stadium as news soon trickled in that Junior had died.

Dempo had reportedly signed him for a sum of Rs 22 lakh for on a six-month contract. Dr Mathew, who attended on Junior, said that ‘‘he possibly had a massive cardiac arrest and died instantly. We did our very best but nothing was possible. His pupils did not dialte when we attended to him on the ground.’’

‘‘He responded a little and seemed to get his breath back but then he collapsed as he was being taken,” said Dr Mathew. Doctors at the hospital certified him as ‘‘brought dead’’.

‘‘A post-mortem will be conducted at Bowring and the real cause of death will then be known,’’ said Dr Mathew.

Meanwhile, the grief-stricken Dempo team and a huge crowd which had witnessed the Brazilian in action during the final gathered at the hospital. Junior’s wife, who had just joined him from Brasilia, had stayed back in Goa and was informed of the tragedy by Dempo.

The AIFF secretary Albert Colaco, who was at the hospital, said: ‘‘It was something no one could do anything about. It is a great tragedy and a personal loss to me and all those who knew him. I feel for his family. We will have to do the needful and then arrange to send his body back home,’’ said Colaco.

This is the second time a footballer has died during play in India. Sanjib Dutta of Railways died in similar circumstances during hte Santosh Trophy in Kochin in 1992-93. Services defender Sylvester suffered similarly during the Jabalpur nationals but was revived.