Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. But whenever the opportunity came, he delivered his best and grabbed the attention of football lovers, coaches and selectors. Swadhin Dekaraja, the former international footballer who hailed from Tagunmara in the Morigaon district and is presently a resident of Duliajan, spoke for a while with The Sentinel recently and narrated nicely on various shades of his football career. Here are the excerpts.
The Sentinel (TS): How do you come in football?
Dekaraja: During my early days, the economic condition of our family was not so good. I tried to keep myself happy by playing with rorob tenga (a big citrus fruit) alone. One day, I got opportunity due to one player's injury. That match perhaps was the turning point in my life. Then I got an offer to join the Jute Mill team, situated at Silghat, with a monthly salary of Rs 250.
(TS): When did the major break come?
Dekaraja: Our team, Jute Mill, beat powerful Nagaon Town Club in a final held at Kaliabor. Noted sports organizer Nurul Amin was present on the ground, and he was very impressed with my performance. Amin advised to join Nagaon Municipality. I was offered Rs 2,500 as a salary for the job.
(TS): Share your journey to the State squad.
Dekaraja: Before that, I need to speak about a few other things which made me to the State squad. Meghalaya Police was very much interested to take me in their team, and once Nurul Amin got the news he advised me to join the team as he felt that I would get better facilities there which would help to improve my game further. So, I joined Meghalaya Police and turned out for them on a regular basis. During that time, some of the players of Oil India Limited spotted me and offered to join the company. I came into the State team once I joined Oil India Limited.
(TS): From Duliajan to Team India- the journey perhaps was not an easy one. How did you do it?
Dekaraja: It was 1975 when I was chosen in the Assam team to play for Santosh Trophy. In the quarter-final against Bengal I got chance as a substitute when we were trailing by two goals. We bounced back and levelled the score, I netted one. Although we lost the game in the tie-break, selectors picked me in the Indian team for the Independence Cup held in Afghanistan.
(TS): Are you happy with the present state of Indian football?
Dekaraja: No. During our days, the players were very skilful and their style of play attracted the crowd to come into the ground. But very sorry to say that the present-day players don't acquire similar skills and that makes a lot of impact on the overall performance of the team.
(TS): Your suggestions to the young players.
Dekaraja: Do a lot of hard work with proper plans. At the same, I will suggest they love the game. I feel, when one works in the field of his interest, he learns quickly.
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