Simon Sundararaj’s most memorable moment in life is a paradox. What perhaps is the proudest moment of his life – scoring a goal for India against Peru in the 1960 Rome Olympics-- it is both a hark back to Indian football’s pinnacle of glory and a reminder of the nation’s failure to distinguish itself in world’s favourite sport.
Olympian Simon Sundararaj is a forgotten hero but he would be remembered as the last Indian who scored a goal at the Olympics and the man who coached Kerala team to its first ever Santosh Trophy victory. Though much water has flown under the bridge – half a century later India is yet to qualify for the Olympics.
Hailing from Thanjavur, Simon was the first to represent Tamil Nadu in national team. The footballer pursued his passion in what can be dubbed as Indian football’s golden era and rubbed shoulders with Indian football giants.
“I am proud that I played for India. . Making it to the Olympics was an achievement in itself,” says Simon with a visible glint of pride. “But truth is we have gained nothing.”
Simon did not expect a hero’s welcome. Neither did he expect any ‘reward’ from South Indian Railways, the team he represented at the national level. It came in the form of loss of pay for the four months Simon spent in preparatory camps and at the Games.
“All we got was coca-cola. No promotion, recognition, awards, nothing. We did not play for money, but neither did we have the incentive to play on,” says the footballer who worked as a railway guard for six years.
“How do you expect sports to flourish when sportspersons are not recognized or encouraged?” he asks, reminding of the pathetic conditions in which fellow Olympian Yusuf Khan succumbed for want of care and aid.
Kick off
Simon nurtured no dreams of making it big in football. ‘I played for fun’, he says candidly. His grandfather with the sobriquet ‘Mile Masilamani’ was a local star athlete. But it was his uncle Swartz who played for the Tanjore United Club and inadvertently became his role model. Little Simon followed him to all local tournaments and passion was contagious.
“I used to play in ‘sevens’ – seven a side football game with a bunch of seniors all in their 20s. I was picked up at 13,” he recalls with pride.
Simon narrates tales of playing football barefoot, with no qualified coaches or proper infrastructure. “Shoes became compulsory when I was 14 and I found it easier to adapt compared to my seniors.”
A Diploma holder in Physical Education, Simon made it to the selection camp of the All India Football Federation and donned the national jersey at 23 after a series of games at the national level.
India qualified for the Olympics beating Asian powerhouse Indonesia 4-2 at home and 2-1 at Jakarta. Three of India’s six goals were scored by Simon.
An Olympian task
The Olympic experience is an epoch in his life. ‘Standing in the march past team wearing the Indian blazer is an unforgettable experience ,” he says. The 1960 Summer Olympics had highlights that Simon would always cherish -- meeting Wilma Rudolph, the then ‘fastest woman’ Muhammad Ali Cassius Clay’s first gold medal and Milkha Singh missing the bronze by a whisker.
The Indian football team drew with France and rallied before losing to Hungary 2-1. Simon’s goal from 30 yards could not see the team through.
Disappointed Simon qualified himself as a coach at Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala and also of Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT), State’s leading football team. He scripted Kerala’s maiden Santosh Trophy triumph and put Kerala on the Indian football map. He describes his 40 years in God’s own country as the best years of his life.
For the love of sport
For all those who play truant from the physical education classes, Simon has a word of advice. “I used to grumble at the rigorous regime that we had to follow in PT classes, but I realize the benefits today. Onset of hereditary diseases can be postponed with regular walking and jogging from a young age.
On the state of sports in the country, Simon says the blame cannot be laid squarely on one entity. “It was the hunger to prove ourselves in an international event that drove us on. We did not have the best of infrastructure or nutritious supplements like today’s kids. But we were able to play for 90 minutes on old rice.”
Infrastructure is still his major concern. “There are stadiums in every district, but no activities. There is a dearth of coaches. . If we play on pot holes ridden stretches, how can we compete on international standards especially when other countries have schools with artificial grounds.”
“There’s plenty of talent in our country with a billion-plus people. Only we do not know how to use them. Experts and former players are often consulted but their suggestions are never implemented.”
He righteously flares up at controversies tarnishing the Commonwealth games. True mettle of our athletes will be tested at the Olympics. It is there we have to prove ourselves.”
On what ails football today: “All was lost when politics entered the game.”
“How can you expect sports other than cricket to grow when other sports are not given equal recognition?,” he rues
