India jointly won the Asian Youth Championship with Iran after 2-2 draw in Bangkok on April 30.
HYDERABAD (India): Forty six years ago, India’s U22 team created history by becoming joint champions with Iran in the XVI Asian Youth Championship in Bangkok (Thailand).
Incidentally, this was the last major and recognized international competition that India had won at the international level.
The team had participated on several occasions in the Asian Youth Championship in the past, but the result were not good enough. And the Indian government had decided against going to the tournament, which was held from April 15-30, 1974.
However, the All India Football Federation managed to persuade the government to grant permission and convinced that the team would perform well.
I was named the captain with Prasun Banerjee my deputy.
Rusty start with slender wins
Nobody expected much from us. In the first match on April 17, we managed to beat Laos 1-0. I scored the only goal.
In the next match two days later, India edged past the then Burma 1-0, with me Shabbir Ali scoring once again.
Goalkeeper Prasanta Mitra guides India to semis
Our performance had improved vastly against a formidable opposition, and with two wins we qualified for the quarterfinals.
In the last pool match on April 21, Hong Kong held us 2-2, but we finished group winners. Mohammed Yakoob netted the both goal for us. Hong Kong finished runners-up in the group.
India held by Singapore to a 1-1 draw in the quarterfinal on April 24. I scored once again, but hats off to our goalkeeper Prasanta Mitra, who proved a tough nut to crack in the tie-breaker as India won 4-1.
India beat Thailand 2-1 in semis
In the semifinal we faced the hosts, who had beaten Japan in the group stage and had scored 11 goals and maintained a clean slate enroute to the last four.
The stadium was packed, but we hardly had any supporters. But we played with our hearts out. Yakoob and me scored as India entered into the final.
Iran was in top form
Iran were firm favourites to win the final that was played on April 30 after having beaten South Korea 3-0 in the semis.
Everybody expected them to beat us, but our coaches S A Salam and Arun Ghosh and manager Dilip Ghosh motivated us.
When we were headed to the stadium, our bus was behind the Iran vehicle with a police car separating the two teams.
Our coaches encouraged us with their pep talks by saying that the Iranians had taken us for granted, and they’re already celebrating.
“We have to teach them a lesson,” the coaches told us.
India played as a cohesive unit with the right balance in the attack and rear end.
Iran took the lead, but Latifuddin Najam equalised and the score read 1-1 at the end of regulation period.
I scored as we took the lead in the first minute of extra-time. But Iran equalised through a free-kick in the end.
The tie-breaker was not used and thus the honours were shared.
(The author is a former Indian football team captain and technical director. He captained India to win the Asian Youth championships in 1974).
Great achievement Sir. I feel proud to have U as my coach at Md. Sporting club in 1991.Ltd was a great experience in my life to play under your coaching. As a footballer U was great n as a teacher U r fabulous.
Thanks Jhantu, glad to go through your comments. 1990-91 Mohammedan SC, became the Champion Club of India by winning 4 trophies and Runners up in 2 in my 1st year of Coaching. It happened not coz of me but because of you all also. Senior Junior all were eager to learn, work hard and combined effort plus good team spirit. I am happy that most of you gone to represent State/India and established in life.