AIFF to felicitate surviving 1951 & 1962 Asian Games football gold medallists!

In a suiting gesture the All India Football Federation will be felicitating the surviving members of the gold medal winning 1951 and 1962 Asian Games football teams on Tuesday, August 21 as part of a function to mark the federation's 75th anniversary.

"We will felicitate the living members of the 1951 and the 1962 Asia Games gold medal winning teams. It is unfortunate that several members of the two teams are not alive. The AIFF's 75 years also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the 1962 gold winning feat. So, the AIFF has decided to honour the heroes who have given so much to Indian football," an AIFF spokesperson told agencies.

In 1951 the inaugural Asian Games where held in New Delhi and the football team under the legendary captain Sailendra Nath Manna won the gold medal with Sahu Mewalal scoring the winner against Iran.

11 years later in Jakarta, India won their second and until now last gold medal in Asian Games football. It was a 2-1 final victory against South Korea with P.K. Banerjee and the late Jarnail Singh scoring.


The list of players to be felicitated

1951 Asian Games: Ahmed Khan (Bengal), T. Shanmugham (Mysore), T.M. Varghese (Bombay)

1962 Asian Games: D.M.K. Afzal (Andhra Pradesh), Arumai Nayagam (Bengal), Tulsidas Balaram (Bengal), P.K. Banerjee (Bengal), Prodyut Barman (Railways), O. Chandrashekar (Bombay), Ethiraj (Services), Fortunata A. Franco (Bombay), Arun Ghosh (Bengal), Chuni Goswami (Bengal), Prasanta Sinha (Bengal)


Complete 1951 Asian Games squad
Goalkeepers: B. Anthony (Bengal), K.L. Varadaraj (Mysore)
Backs: Sailendra Nath Manna (Mohun Bagan AC - CAPTAIN), Syed Khwaja Azizuddin (Hyderabad City Police), T.M. Varghese [alias Papen] (Bombay), Sunil Chatterjee (Bengal).
Half Backs: Abdul Latif (Mohammedan Sporting Club), Noor Mohammed (Hyderabad City Police), Chandan Singh Rawat (Services), Abhoy Ghosh (Bengal), D.N. Jones (Services), T. Shanmugham (Mysore)
Forwards: Pansanttom Venkatesh (East Bengal Club), G.Y.S. Laiq (Hyderabad City Police), M.A. Sattar (Bengal), P.B.A. Saleh (Bengal), Runu Guha Thakurta (Bengal), Sahu Mewalal (Bengal), Santosh Nandy (Bengal), M. Ahmed Khan (Bengal), Loganathan (Madras), A.M. Bachan (Orissa)
COACH: SYED ABDUL RAHIM (Hyderabad); MANAGER: KARTICK CHANDRA MUKHERJEE (Bengal)

Complete 1962 Asian Games squad
Goalkeepers: Peter Thangaraj (Mohammedan Sporting Club), Prodyut Burman (Railways)
Backs: O. Chandrashekar (Bombay), Jarnail Singh (Mohun Bagan AC), Trilok Singh (Services), Arun Ghosh (East Bengal Club), D.M.K. Afzal (Hyderabad City Police)
Half Backs: Fortunata A. Franco (ICL-Bengal Club, Bombay), Ram Bahadur (East Bengal Club), Prasanto Sinha (Bengal)
Forwards: P.K. Banerjee (Railways), Chuni Goswami (Mohun Bagan AC - CAPTAIN), Tulsidas Balaram (East Bengal Club), Ethiraj (Services), Mohammed Yousuf Khan (Hyderabad City Police), Arumai Nayagam (Mohun Bagan AC)
COACH: SYED ABDUL RAHIM (Hyderabad); MANAGER: NURUL AMIN (Assam)

AIFF launches Platinum Jubilee (75th anniversary) celebrations

The All India Football Federation turned 75 today on Saturday, June 23. It was on this day in Shimla in 1937 that the All India Football Federation was founded. The Football Federation commemorated the occasion by launching the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations at the AIFF Headquarters, the Football House in Dwarka, New Delhi. The celebrations continue till June 22, 2013.

Former India Captain and legendary footballer Chuni Goswami unfurled the flag to mark the beginning of the celebrations besides also unveiling the AIFF's Platinum Jubilee logo. The AIFF Senior Vice-Presidents A.R. Khaleel and Subrata Dutta were also present as were Hardev Jadeja, Ankur Dutta, Tempo Bhutia and Sunil Bharadwaj besides General Secretary Kushal Das, but the AIFF president Praful Patel was not present on the occasion.

AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das looked back the path travelled so far. "It is a momentous day for all football lovers. The AIFF which was launched in 1937 is now 75 years old. We stay proud of our history," he said.

He also stressed on the future plans ahead. "AIFF has big plans for the development of football specially the launch of Youth Academies which will go a long way in improving and developing the game in India," he added.

AIFF President Praful Patel in his message said, "It is indeed a great occasion that we are 75 years old. I am sure that with the programme undertaken in the Platinum Jubilee year we will go a long way in creating the right impetus to take Indian football to the next level in due course."

Chuni Goswami also lauded the AIFF over the recent appointment of foreign coaches. "I need to mention that AIFF has brought in quality coaching staff in all age groups. It's up to the Indian Coaches who work with them to learn the finer points of the trade," he commented.

On the occasion a short documentary film 'Glory of Indian Football’ was screened at the Football House.

Besides, Chuni Goswami was presented a bouquet of flowers by A.R. Khaleel, Subrata Dutta, Ankur Datta and Hardev Jadeja. Kushal Das presented Chuni Goswami a memento and Subrata Dutta presented him with a shawl.

The Military Pipe Band of Rajputana Rifles performed on the occasion with 'Saare Jahan se Accha' played in honour of the guests. The AIFF staff were also present on the occasion besides the media.