Vijayan to join elite club — heads the film way

But Vijayan will be joining the elite league of footballers who have acted in movies. Pele, Maradona (movie on him is still in the making), Ardilles (the guy who actually turned the tide in favour of the Prisoners of Wars in the famous film Escape to Victory. So, from selling soda bottles at the Thrissur Stadium to becoming arguably the best player this country has ever seen, Vijayan has achieved whatever a sportsman craves for. Glory, fame, money he has got everything. Or has he?

Maybe he is not that famished looking young lad of the Thrissur Stadium, but in a way he is back to where he was.

In a different way. Raising money from wherever he can manage for his dream project IM Vijayan Sports Foundation, which is in the line of Ajax’s fabled nursery. Subhash Bhowmick and Xavier Pios are there in Thrissur to train 30 boys, who have been shortlisted. In Calcutta, once some philistines raised a lot of hue and cry when it was found that people with underworld connections donate money to Mother Teresa’s Nirmal Hriday. “Even rich people help my cause,” was her riposte.

Vijayan is even ready to go to hell to make his dream come true. He left, along with Jo Paul Ancheri and a host of other players, for Saudi Arabia in the wee hours of Tuesday from Mumbai where an Indian XI will be playing Al-Qadisiyah Club on August 17th and 19th. And then Vijayan will be off to Bangladesh to play five matches for Mukti Yodha.

The real question is why a player like Vijayan has to go all round the globe to collect money for his academy. The answer is plain and simple. The conformist Indian middleclass cannot identify with a `black’ Vijayan while Bhaiching Bhutia is more acceptable. A story on Air-India’s Bungo Singh and Tomba Singh was liked by a colleague because she finds north-east guys “appealing”!

It hurts when a budding player of Mumbai says his dream is to give a pass to Luis Figo and the Portuguese international will score. Or the recptionist of Hotel Tirupati when asked whether Vijayan has checked in says “That black and tall guy”? So where does this leave IM Vijayan, Aqueel Ansari or Bruno Coutinho? Isn’t it hypocrisy that you gloat over Euro 2000 and David Beckham while the Indian footballers are treated as outcasts. People with armchair knowledge say it is because of lack of success.

Chalta hai yaar, says the king of Indian football with that infectious smile. When this reporter gave his card, Vijayan looked at it and said “something is common”. Yes Express”. IM Vijayan. Who are you ?What about the academy ? “It will succeed and I’m doing my best make it a success.” The 20-acre land which he needs to house this project has not got a green signal from the government. “Some problems have cropped up but I’ve played football for the country and I should get the land,” he says.

What about the film that’s being planned? “ Who told you? Yeah, I’ll be a hero,” he informs.

When asked about the `historic’ England trip Vijayan paused and then said “It was good. England dekhke aaya and we played good football”. The king treaded a cautious path for he didn’t want controversy. Anything `loose’ against anyone can spell doom for the Academy. Justified.

Vijayan said he’ll play for another two years. “In India I can still play.” Amal Dutta, the eccentric coach with the best knowledge of the game, once said Vijayan is the only footballer of the present generation who can play anywhere in the world. While Sapphire Enterprises’ (Bhaichung Bhutia also is a partner) Jas Bains and Raj Purohit felt Bijen Singh can be a better choice.

Some months back there was a news item that Vijayan wants an Arjuna Award. The headline almost make it out like he has committed a sin. How many awards you have won? “I was adjudged `Indian Footballer of the Year’ thrice.” By the way, The Cultural Society of India in Saudi Arabia will give a special award to him for his outstanding contribution to the Indian football.

As he was getting up from the sofa at the reception, the same receptionist asked for his autograph. When told that three hours back the same person did not know that there was a footballer named Vijayan, `the king’ gave that familiar smile again. IM Vijayan, who are you?