The Hindu : Sport / Football : Tributes pour in for Thangaraj

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Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008
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Tributes pour in for Thangaraj

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, R. Damodar Reddy, Minister for Sports and IT, condoled the demise of Peter Thangaraj, former football Olympian, in Bokaro last night. “The sports fraternity lost a great sportsperson and the state in particular a legend in football. We express our deep condolences to the bereaved family members,” they said in a statement here.

Former India captain Victor Amalraj, ex-internationals John Victor and Phalguna expressed shock at the death of Peter Thangaraj. “We still vividly remember how he encouraged all of us during our formative years. He always loved to be on the soccer field. A towering personality who will be badly missed by the football fraternity,” they said in a statement.

Andhra Pradesh Veterans Football Association also condoled his demise.

AP Olympic Association secretary L. Venkatram Reddy said his death is a big loss to the Indian sport, he said in a message.

Thangaraj, who belonged to the golden era of Indian football which saw the country finishing fourth in 1956 Melbourne Olympics and winning the gold in 1962 Jakarta Asian Games, would be remembered as a great player and a good human, remarked his peers.

“Thangaraj played a big part in our success. His towering presence under the bar was source of confidence to the team,” said Subimal (Chuni) Goswami, the captain of the 1962 Asian Games gold winning team, from Kolkata. “He was a great team man. Be it on the field or outside, he always came to the help of teammates,” he added.

Samar (Badru) Banerjee, who led India in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, remembered the seriousness and sincerity with which Thangaraj approached the sport. “He was always very serious, and sincere even during the practice sessions,” he said.“He was ahead of his times and played in a manner the modern day goalkeepers do, that is, help in beginning the attack from the defence,” he added.

“His long volleys and half-round throws gave the advantage to the team’s attack as he ensured the ball landed deep in the rival territory,” Banerjee said.

Former Indian captain Subrata Bhattacharya said, “I had the fortune of seeing him briefly when he was in the last phase of his career.

“What impressed me most about him was the composure and his ability to stay focused in crisis.” — Principal Correspondent

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