The Hindu : Double Olympian goes down the memory lane

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 02, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Double Olympian goes down the memory lane

By V.V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD, FEB. 1. At 67, he is truly representative of the exuberance of his youth during the golden era of Indian football in 50s and 60s. That is Tulasidas Balaraman (more popularly known as Balaram) for you. In the city on a private visit, this famous double Olympian (1956 & 1960) and now based in Kolkata, went down memory lane by calling on the some of his great contemporaries like Mohd Yousuf Khan, Salam and Susai Jr -- the trio who are now in dire straits.

And, so typical of the way they played the sport, Balaraman is not complaining at being neglected but made a fervent appeal to the Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who he feels has done wonders to the sports of late, to provide the much desired financial aid to take care of the medical treatment of the three superstars of yesteryears.

"I have not come to plead for any personal favour. I am happy with what I am thanks to late S.A. Raheem (the most famous football coach in Indian history)," he makes it clear. "For God's sake, it is worth remembering that these gentlemen played the sport when they were least bothered about money or any other facility," Balaraman reminds. Well, he himself was paid a paltry Rs. 3,000 per annum for representing the prestigious East Bengal Club between 1957-62. "Mind you, we were not paid even a pie for reaching the semi-finals of the Melbourne Olympics and later for winning the gold in the 1962 Asian Games," he says to make his point.

The sprightly figure of Balaraman is apparently distressed at the state of football, both in Hyderabad and even in Kolkata, the `Mecca of Indian football'. "I can tell you it is deteriorating every day everywhere," he asserts.

This student of Bolarum High School from Secunderabad was first spotted by the legendary Raheem. And Balaraman's joy and tension (at replacing his role model and first guru Susai Jr) in the State team knew no bounds in 1956.

"Raheem Saheb took me home, showed the silver medal in the Senior Nationals won by Andhra Pradesh earlier and then told me `now it is in your hands to win the gold in the Santosh Trophy'. Tell, me how many coaches can do that," recalls Balaraman. "He was God to me and to most of the footballers then. I am yet to see any coach showing such commitment, dedication, sincerity and objectivity in selections," was his compliment to his illustrious coach. "And, when Hyderabad had nine members in the 1956 Olympics team, that itself was a great tribute to the great coach. Now, Sports Authority of India is producing only coaches and that too substandard and no more players," he remarked.

A chat with this legend also gave an insight of how much Raheem Saheb, as he was known in the football circles, sacrificed for the sport. Not many know that during the 1962 Asian Games he was suffering from advanced stages of a cancer.

Yet, he was always there at the ground. His pep talk - you are the privileged 11 chosen to play for the country. Give something back to the country, remember the soldiers who sacrifice so much. It is time we make the country proud by winning the gold - is recalled vividly by an emotional Balaraman. " And we did so, beating South Korea 2-1 in the final with Jarnail Singh and P.K. Banerjee being the scorers," Balaraman recalled.

The great coach had two dreams - to see Hyderabad win the Santosh Trophy (which happened in 1956) and the Indian team win the gold in Asian Games. "I can tell you he was the first one to highlight the importance of 4-4-2 formations on the field. It is to his credit that India is recognised as a soccer power and not just as nation which played cricket and hockey," he explains. "He was suffering so much during the 1962 Asian Games that on our way back after winning the gold, we had to call for a doctor on the flight for medical treatment. And within two months after the team arrived in the city, he passed away. And that marked the beginning of the end of a glorious chapter and also the standard of football," said an emotional Balaraman.

This star forward is clearly sad at the sorry state of affairs of Hyderabad football despite all the world-class facilities available now. And, he puts the blame on the players and the officials too. "Tell me, how many are genuinely in love with the sport and have serious concern for its promotion," he asks. "I firmly believe that the only way is to have full-fledged Academies by all the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) member associations with qualified and sincere coaches completely incharge of everything.

And, these coaches have to be monitored by a foreign coach," is his remedy.

He was one of those who diligently followed Raheem Saheb's famous dictum: "Football is all about - ball lo (take the ball), ball de do (pass the ball)".

And, perhaps symbolic of the depths the game had hit in the city, Balaraman moved around the city for two days, almost unrecognised even at the football grounds but for some old-timers walking across to exchange pleasantries. May be, his fault was he dazzled in the era when media focus was far less than it is today.

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