S.P. Kumar, Gobinda Das, Shabbir Ali, Dilip Pandit, Sisir Guha Dastidar, C.C. Jacob with their mementoes.
| Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI
The All India Football Federation commemorated Golden Jubilee of the Indian staff’s triumph within the AFC Youth Championship in 1974 by felicitating the staff members at a perform right here on Tuesday.
The well-attended ceremony remembered the exploits of the Indian staff which was declared the joint winner with Iran in Bangkok after the groups had been tied 2-2 within the ultimate even after extra-time. This was the final notable triumph for Indian within the worldwide area after the seniors had settled for a bronze within the 1970 Asian Games (additionally in Bangkok).
AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey offered mementos to 6 members of the squad, together with captain Shabbir Ali, C.C. Jacob, Dilip Palit, Shishir Guha Dastidar, Ranjit (Gobinda Das) and S.P. Kumar, who might make themselves out there.
The coach of the successful squad, Arun Ghosh, couldn’t attend the perform owing to well being causes. His son-in-law, former National desk tennis champion Nupur Santra, obtained the souvenir on his behalf.
“For almost five decades after India’s independence, we never focused on utilising the international friendly windows, the FIFA World Cup or even to collaborate with the world of football. We chose not to look beyond the Olympics and the Asian Games at that time. That seems to have cost us important international exposure,” stated the AIFF president.
“We have already lost those five decades, which is a long bridge to build when we know that others are way ahead,” he stated.