BANGALORE: Peter Thangaraj, who died of cardiac arrest in Bokaro on Monday, revolutionised football goalkeeping in the country and the continent.
The tall, stylish yet powerfully built custodian had a fan following like none else during his prime.
“I became a goalkeeper after watching Thangaraj play,” former India goalkeepers Victor Manjila and Sethumadhavan both echoed once during a chat.
The 72-year-old Thangaraj was the recipient of the Arjuna Award in 1967 and had starred in many of India’s brilliant performances in that golden era.
Thangaraj figured in the Indian team which was the first Asian country to enter the semifinals of the Olympic Games in 1956. He was also around in the 1960 Olympics in Rome, the last time India has played football in the quadrennial extravaganza.
Thangaraj was also in three Asian Games teams in 1958 (Tokyo), 1962 (Jakarta) where India won the soccer gold and again in 1966 in Bangkok.
Thangaraj was selected for the Asian All- Star teams twice and was adjudged as the best goalkepeer in Asia in 1958.
At the club level, Thangaraj became a hero on the Calcutta Maidan, playing for all the three big clubs, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting apart from starring in Bengal’s Santosh Trophy victories from 1961 to 1964.
It was Thangaraj who introduced the concept of long throws in Indian goalkeeping.
He was also among the first to play the half-volley while effecting a goalkeeper’s clearance at a time when players were allowed to pass the ball back to the goalkeepers.
Often his throw and kick was just as long and powerful yet finding the right player to launch a counter-attack.
Often the ‘baby taxi’ of the Mohun Bagan and Indian teams, Arumainayagam would sprint away with those accurate throws and set up a goal for his team.
“It’s a great loss for me and for Indian football.We were teammates for long and very close friends. Thangaraj was a very stylish yet dedicated and disciplined player. Easily the greatest during his time,” recalled Arumainayagam.
“We played together for so long in the Olympics, Asian Games, Asia Cup for India.
He also played against me, but he always maintained that healthy respect and friendship,” said Chuni Goswami from Kolkata.
“He was easily the greatest goalkeeper since the 60s, but he was a gentlemanly player,” said Krishnaji Rao, who played as a defender in the 1966 Asian Games with Thangaraj in the goal.
“It was very difficult for any forward, however skilful, to score against him. He was surely the best,” added Lionel, a former International and Thangaraj’s contemporary.
