Chuni Goswami: India pays tribute to all-time great sporting icon

The Asian gold medalist played for the national team for nine years.

The Indian football fraternity was hit with cruel news on Thursday. as legendary sportsperson Chuni Goswami breathed his last in Kolkata after suffering a cardiac arrest. The 82-year-old is best remembered for leading the Indian team to the gold medal in football in the 1962 edition of the Asian Games.

Moreover, he is credited for his utmost loyalty towards Mohun Bagan, as it was the only club that he professionally represented throughout his playing career. Goswami was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1963 and was even conferred with the Padma Shri in 1983. His exploits for Bengal in first-class cricket added another dimension and a feather to his cap, demonstrating how brilliantly he juggled his interests in various sports.

Prominent personalities and associations paid their due respects to this absolute footballing veteran after his passing away. As soon as the news broke out, several reactions started pouring in.

Former Indian footballer IM Vijayan had some kind words as he stated, “Chuni Goswami is one of the legends of Indian football. Chuni, PK Banerjee, Abdul Rahman, they are all India’s greats. I have only heard about his (Goswami’s) talent during his playing days.

He even proclaimed, “We haven’t seen Pele play, but we consider people like them as footballers on a different level.”

Goswami had played 46 first-class matches for his state and even turned up for them in two Ranji Trophy finals. He was a pace-bowling all-rounder and is fondly remembered by Sunil Gavaskar. The Mumbai-based former opener mourned, “Today is a truly depressing day. First Rishi (Kapoor) and now Chuni da have left us. Both champions and legends in their craft. The world will be poorer for their departure to the Heavens. RIP.”

Sambaran Banerjee is a cricketer who previously won the Ranji Trophy with Bengal too. He recalled his old memories with Goswami and remembered, “Chunida was my first club captain, in Mohun Bagan, 1977. To me, he is Bengal’s best sports personality ever."

“I remember he performed outstandingly well against the West Indies for the combined East and Central Zone team, taking quite a few wickets in that game."

He continued, “He was a utility player who would help the juniors a lot. When we won the Ranji Trophy, he sent me a letter and a bouquet at home in the evening. I still remember that.”

Goswami’s influence as a sporting personality was widespread across quarters, as he was fondly looked back at by even the Chief Minister of West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee observed, “I am deeply saddened to know that football legend Chuni Goswami is no more."

“A real star and a football icon, he was amongst the greatest players that Indian football has ever seen. He was a versatile personality who brought many laurels to the country and to Bengal.”

She further mentioned, “While his demise is a monumental loss to the world of sports and particularly football, Bengal, with a great passion for the sport has lost one of her greatest sons.

“My deepest condolences to Chuni Goswami’s family, friends and innumerable fans. May his soul rest in peace,” Banerjee concluded.

In total, Chuni Goswami scored 13 goals for the Indian national team in his playing career. The former Mohun Bagan virtuoso had a charismatic personality and a fluent style of play that earned incredible applause.

On this occasion, Goswami’s old mate Franco Fortunato expressed his thoughts in an interaction with the AIFF. Fortunato and Goswami shared the national team’s dressing room for nine years and they were also a part of the side’s historic victorious run at the 1962 Asian Games.

Fortunato reminisced, “Chuni Goswami was the Golden Boy, and he will remain the Golden Boy of Indian football forever. Period.”

He resumed, “On the field, he was total magic -- a complete player. He could dribble, he could shoot, he could pass. His ball control was amazing. He could mesmerize fans and even opponents.

“The team that won the Gold Medal in the 1962 Asian Games was a fantastic bunch. But, Chuni was above all. He was a treat to watch. He was pure entertainment, a complete package. He was our captain, our darling.”

Furthermore, Fortunato shed some light on Goswami’s fabled personality traits. He claimed, “Off the field, Chuni was a true gentleman. He was gentle, extremely well-mannered and articulate."

“He was accepted in all circles and could speak on any subject for hours. He could hypnotize audiences, both on and off the field.”

Isaiah Arumainayagam was a teammate of Chuni Goswami in the past. He recalled, "He scored many goals. If he hadn't scored a goal while someone else in the side had, then he used to say this to us in Bengal which meant- You have scored a goal, I'm yet to score one. Why don't you give me a pass so that I'll score one?"

Former India international Subhash Bhomwick joined in the bandwagon and went to the extent of referring to Chuni Goswami as India's greatest ever sportsperson.

Bhomwick's declared, “It's a huge loss. We've lost not just one of the greatest footballers of this country, but the greatest sportsperson ever born in India.”

The legendary trio of PK Banerjee, Chuni Goswami and Tuslidas Balaram had enthralled the followers with their partnership in the forward line in the Asian Games of 1962. Balaram looked back the days that he spent with Goswami on the field as he expressed, "I was in shock. When I got the information, I could not talk to anybody for hours. Tears were rolling down by eyes"

Balaram recommenced, "We played together for Bengal and India also for so many years. And we had a very good relationship. We used to respect each other." The trio had scored 20 goals whilst playing together for the national team and formed an electric union upfront.

Here are more reactions from on Chuni Goswami’s departure to heavenly abode:

https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1255859143241396225?s=20

https://twitter.com/Mohun_Bagan/status/1255847921318322177?s=20

https://twitter.com/chetrisunil11/status/1255855333374750720?s=20

https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1255845439741595651?s=20

https://twitter.com/IndSuperLeague/status/1255855694957260801?s=20

https://twitter.com/WeAreTeamIndia/status/1255857819770777601

https://twitter.com/bengalurufc/status/1255856227080232960

https://twitter.com/Wriddhipops/status/1255872000226017280

https://twitter.com/boxervijender/status/1255849258688770051

https://twitter.com/theafcdotcom/status/1255849891169021952