Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: Santosh Goswami, an octogenarian footballer, was a key member of the Assam Police team that won the Bordoloi Trophy in 1971. He also represented Assam in the Santosh Trophy on multiple occasions. In a conversation with The Sentinel, Goswami shared fascinating stories from his football career and his experiences playing in the Bordoloi Trophy. Here’s an excerpt from the interview:
Q. How was the football scene in Guwahati during your time?
A. I began playing football in the 50s. Back then, football was the dominant sport in the city and had a massive following. Guwahati wasn't as developed as it is today, but there were plenty of open spaces available for football. I vividly remember playing at Tarun Ram Phukan Park in Machkhowa, which was an open ground at the time. We also frequently practiced at New Field, which had two grounds, both filled with young players during the morning and afternoon. Judges Field, on the other hand, was used for hosting major competitions like the local football league, Bordoloi Trophy, and Ranji Trophy.
Q. How was the club football culture back then?
A. Several clubs played a significant role in promoting football. Maharana Athletic Club and Gauhati Town Club were already well-established and had strong fan bases. Other clubs like Sporting Union, Boys Union, Amateur United Club, and Ranibari Athletic Club also had their own dedicated supporters and organisers.
Q. How did you get into football?
A. Football has always been my passion since childhood. My father wasn’t too keen on me becoming a sportsperson, but I managed to find time to play football every day. My first club was Kohinoor Athletic Club at Lakhtokia, where I made my debut in B Division football in 1958. I also played for West Guwahati Athletic Club and Amateur United Club before joining Assam Police in 1963. I ended my career playing for Gauhati Town Club in 1974.
Q. Can you recall your time with the Assam Police Football Team?
A. Yes! I was the captain of the Assam Police team from 1966 to 1971. During my time, Assam Police made history by winning the East Zone Police Meet for the first time in 1966. Later that year, we also won the All India Police Football title, defeating Madras Police in the final. It was an exciting time for me, and I was proud to represent Assam Police and contribute to the team’s success.
Q. What are your memories of the Bordoloi Trophy?
A. My memories of the Bordoloi Trophy are two folds: one as a football lover and the other as a player. I was a regular visitor at Judges Field ever since the Bordoloi Trophy began. At that time, you had to buy a ticket to watch the matches, but we didn’t always have money. So, we managed to get in for free by speaking with the organizers or entered after halftime, when the gates were open to all. There were no sitting arrangements then except for the VIPs. Fans either stood or sat near the ground. There was a marked area outside the touchline to keep the crowd from entering the field, though the referees and organizers often struggled to control the massive crowd. The average attendance back then was around 5,000 spectators every day which was a very good number.
Q. What about your experiences as a player in the Bordoloi Trophy?
A. Assam Police had a strong team and consistently performed well in the competition. We also had a dedicated group of supporters who would come to watch our matches. One of the most memorable moments was in 1967, when we faced East Bengal three times in a quarter-final match, as there was no tiebreaker rule at the time. We won the quarter final and later faced Ichhapur Rifle Factory in the semifinals. After two encounters failed to produce result, the Guwahati Sports Association decided to resolve the match through a lottery, and Ichhapur Rifle Factory was declared the winner. A running joke at the time was that both lottery coupons had Ichhapur Rifle Factory's name on them, supposedly so we could join the Santosh Trophy camp as nine footballers of our team was in probable list in Santosh Trophy and the camp was going on full swing. It was an incredible feeling to finally be part of the Bordoloi Trophy-winning team in 1971.
Q. What made the Assam Police team so formidable during that time?
A. Back in those days, there were only a few qualified coaches, like Bilash Baruah and Adhir Roy in the State. However, we were fortunate to have an experienced international player, Mr Lique from Hyderabad Police, who came to guide our team. His coaching definitely played a key role in our success. We also had some exceptional players in the team.
Q. You have noticed many state players with great skills. Can you name a few of them?
A. Tashen Bora was one of the most skilled players I knew. I first saw him playing for the Junior Assam team, and he was incredibly talented. Other notable players included Gilbertson Sangma, Prahlad Khaklari, Maolong Ao, and Brojen Brahma. The list could go on.
Q. What advice would you give to young footballers?
A. Discipline and focus are essential. Players need to be dedicated to their training and follow their coaches' instructions. Today's youth is incredibly intelligent, and if they apply their minds to the sport, they can achieve great success, not only for the state but also for the country.
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