INITIATION BY FIRE

INITIATION BY FIRE
Partha Ganguly, 1963 Civil Engineering.

I was a proud member of the College team that won Sir Ashutosh Memorial Inter Collegiate tournament in 1961-62, however were unfortunately knocked out in the semifinals in 1963. But there were two games that I remember most which are clearly stamped in my memory.

The last week of December 1956 was a milestone in my life in more ways than one. I had just finished my High School studies at St Xavier’s Patna, and had moved back to Howrah to stay with my parents. My parents were residing at the Indian Railway quarters located adjacent to Howrah maidan. I would be staying for the next two years with my parents pursuing my Inter-Science studies at St Xavier’s College, Kolkata. The maidan provided an open invitation to me to continue with my early morning jogging habits inculcated during my last year at school. The grounds which housed two football fields provided ample free and safe room for my jogging.

It was sometime during my first week on the maidan that I encountered a group of footballers who gathered around one of the soccer fields to practice their drills and improve their skills. They had a coach directing their activities, who appeared to be well revered and a strict disciplinarian. I watched them as I continued with my rounds. Once when I was running behind their goal post – the coach waved at me and in a very commanding “Ei Cheley – ekhane aye!” beckoned me to go to him. He was a tall well-built personm probably in his late sixties with a booming voice and a commanding presence. I thought he would tell me to go run somewhere else when they occupied the field and I apologized for the intrusion. But he put me at ease –asking me how long I had been jogging and where I lived – and continued with other chit chatting before he asked me if I played football. I was relieved – I could still jog around the fields! I replied in the affirmative and told him I was a goalkeeper in my high school. Upon which he said – “that’s great – let’s see what you can do.”. He summoned a few of the team members and told them to take shots at the goal as I stood on guard between the posts.

I was enthusiastic to have been given the opportunity to show my skills – until I saw that the assigned shot takers planned to take pot shots at me from just outside the penalty box – from distances no more than 10 meters. The soccer balls were wet and heavy with the morning dew on the grass and hard to grip without gloves and stung with every contact on the body – as I tried my utmost to collect or deflect the incoming missiles. The onslaught lasted no more than ten minutes or so but seemed like an eternity. When the barrage ended two of the sharp shooters came over and shook my hand and congratulated me. This was my initiation to football in Kolkata. It was an initiation by fire – at the hands of the coach of the just promoted “Howrah Union” team that had earned a place in the Kolkata’s premier football league.

The coach – whose name I came to know later was Dasu Mittir (Mitra). He came over and told me he was pleased with my ability and asked me to come over every week for practices. I was befriended by two of the footballers who tested my abilities. They were Olympian Arun Ghosh and Amiya Banerjee who eventually made names for themselves. Arun-da played in the 1960 Rome Olympics, 1964 Merdeka Cup (runner up), 1964 AFC Asian Cup (runners-up) and 1962 Asian Games Football (winner). On the other side Amiya-da who was the senior of the two in age also led the “Sandhani” Club in the Howrah Football league – a team where I played for two years prior to my B.E. College days. And Arun-da – who was just a little older than me sort of took me under his wings and was a constructive critic of my performances in a few of the games (and practices) that I played with him. He was an admirable defender – with an uncanny feel for being in the right place at the right time – a stalwart in defense. I vividly remember the last game I played for a team with both of them. It was for Aeronautic Engineers Club – based in Dum Dum which had hired a few of us from the Howrah club. The game ended before the first half when the spectators invaded the field because the referee awarded a goal for us which the local crowd of workers from the Gun and Shell Factory who were supporters of our opponents vehemently disagreed with!

During my first year at St Xavier’s College – I tried out successfully for a place in the college football team and played in the intercollege league whilst I continued with my ventures in the Howrah District League till 1959 when I joined B.E. College.

The first was the Freshers (first year students) versus the rest (the college team) played at the College Oval – in 1959. It was a thrilling game where we – the underdogs defended gallantly, and the game ended in a goalless draw! I remember making numerous saves that drew resounding accolades from the Freshers’ supporters that thronged the field. I was introduced to the college team captain in the pavilion after the game who told me that I had won a place in the College team as a Goalkeeper, and he introduced me to the other team members. There were three of us that were selected from the Freshers – Samar Pal, Amitava (Bhola) Sen and myself. That was a moment to cherish forever.

The second was a friendly game against the renowned Mohun Bagan team after our first Collegiate tournament win in 1961. The star of the visiting team was none other than the doyen of Indian Football – Sailen Manna. This game was also played at the Oval in front of a vast crowd of students and spectators from the local communities. Amongst other stars was Sanat Seth – the All Bengal and India team goalkeeper well known for his super athletic abilities who I met after the game. He asked me to try out for the Calcutta University team and in consultation with Sailen-da invited me to observe the practice sessions of the Mohun Bagan squad on certain weekdays. Regrettably I was unable to accept this very kind offer, for my commitment towards engineering. Let alone meet such stars – playing on the same turf as these renowned athletes seems like a dream.

My advents on the football field ended pretty much when I graduated from B.E. College. I played a little club soccer in the UK and later in USA where I had emigrated. Eventually I took some courses in coaching in the USA and ended up coaching the British Petroleum (BP) teams in Anchorage, Alaska – where I was posted and worked (for BP) for a few years. Not to drop names again, but I was introduced to the late Jackie Charlton (member of the England’s 1966 World Cup Winning Team) who was a guest of BP in Anchorage. Over a cup of coffee, he described to me the benefits of a four-man midfield option which many of the current professional teams have now adopted. That was in 1989 – and the Irish team under Jackie Charlton’s guidance was already practicing that format – which the rest of the world followed almost ten years later. It was a rare privilege that my memory will forever cherish.

Looking back – it has been over forty years that I have been associated in one way or the other with the game that I have been and still am fond of. Thru’ my participation in the game I have made many friends and have many memories that makes reminiscence so pleasurable.
I fully enjoyed being a part of the B.E. College football team for all four years of my tenure.

Few File Photos of ’59-’65