Legendary footballer and coach Shyam Thapa was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Federation of Football Coaches in India (FFCI) here Friday at the Press Club.
Thapa who has been a coach for three decades was presented with the award by IFA Chairperson Subrata Dutta.
Speaking on the occasion, Thapa harped on the need for infrastructure for the coaches. “Coaches need proper facilities to succeed which is not available in India,” Thapa said.
FFCI organised the programme to honour the ‘Unsung Gurus’ coaches who have been working tirelessly for the development of the game without any gains. A total of 23 awards were presented to coaches from all over India.
Speaking on the occasion Dutta said that the need of the hour is ‘educator’ for coaches. “We need proper training programmes to educate the coaches,” he said. Dutta also added that the IFA is ready to help FFCI in whatever way possible.
FFCI president Sanjay Banerjee informed that this event will be an annual one. He also stated that the FFCI will appeal to the AIFF to create a minimum monthly wage for coaches across the country depending on their coaching license. “When all other professions have minimum wages why won’t there be one for coaches,” he pointed out.
His finest hour came in the 1969 Durand final when he scored an opportunistic match winner in the reply against redoubtable Border Security Force (BSF). General Shyam Maneckshaw witnessed that match and invited the entire Gorkha Brigade team for a party the next day. At that party, Shyam requested General Maneckshaw, who became a Field Marshal later, to release him from the army so that he could pursue his career as a professional. The General agreed and Shyam Thapa joined East Bengal again in 1970.
In 1970, Thapa helped India win bronze medal in Merdeka tournament. In that year, he won bronze at the Bangkok Asian Games, with P. K. Banerjee managed and Syed Nayeemuddin captained team.He scored in India’s 3–0 win over Indonesia in the 1970 Asian Games and also in the 3–1 win over Malaysia in the Merdeka tournament.
(Story edited by Pratyusha Mukherjee, Sr.Broadcast Journalist, British Media & Editorial Head of Defence and Sports, NE India Broadcast)
