News Brief
Legendary Indian Footballer Chuni Goswami Passes Away Aged 82, Here’s A Look At His Illustrious Career
Chuni Goswami (BCCI)
India’s footballing legend Subimal Goswami, fondly known as Chuni Goswami today (30 April) passed away in Kolkata following a cardiac arrest.
As per a Sportstar report, Goswami was suffering from various ailments for the past few months and was undergoing treatment at a city hospital, where he passed away at 5 PM today.
Playing predominantly on the left-wing Goswami was known for his dribbling and ball control skills.
Hailed as one of India’s greatest ever footballers, Goswami was the captain of India’s 1962 Gold Medal winning Asian Games team. He had scored a brace in the semi-finals to lead India to a 3-2 victory against South Vietnam.
After the team’s heroic exploits in Jakarta, top English team Tottenham Hotspurs got in touch with Goswami inviting him for a trial in England. A year earlier Tohhenham had won the league and FA Cup double.
Goswami though declined the offer to potentially play in the then English first division and chose to stay with domestic giants Mohun Bagan - a team which he also captained.
Goswami justified his decision by saying that there was a lot of uncertainty in playing in England that time round. He was also convinced to stay at Mohun Bagan by the legendary club administrator Dhiren Dey.
Goswami represented India 50 times between 1956 and 1964 after which he retired from International football at the age of 27.
He was also part of the famed Indian teams which participated in the 1960 Rome Olympics and the 1964 Asian Cup - where India was the runners up.
Goswami continued playing for Mohun Bagan till 1968 and helped the team win three successive Durand Cups and four successive Kolkata League titles. In the 15 years playing for the club Goswami won 10 Kolkata League titles and six Durand Cups.
Goswami during his stint as a Mohun Bagan player reportedly never accepted payment and only played for the passion of the game.
“We got a banana and a piece of toast after practice at Mohun Bagan, that was enough for us”, Goswami was quoted as saying.
Goswami was also an acclaimed cricket player who captained Bengal in the Ranji Trophy in the 1971-72 and reached the final. Goswami also featured in the combined Central and East Zone team which gave an innings defeat to the West Indies led by Gary Sobers.
He is survived by his wife and one son.
His death comes after Indian football suffered another irreplaceable loss in the form P K Banerjee’s passing away last month. The combined attacking trio of Goswami, Banerjee and Tulsidas Balaram is considered the best ever in Indian Football.
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