Football news

Memories of Pele at the Eden

What remains in memory are the unbelievable technical nuances that Pele showed onfield. He was 38 then, past his prime – he joined New York Cosmos after he retired from international football – but his footwork, his energy and his unbelievable skills were all on show.

Published

3 years ago

December 30, 2022

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By Sujit Bhar

The death of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, or Pele, on December 29 in Sao Paulo is a huge loss for football. This brings back memories of when Pele, in the penultimate match of his long career, played with New York Cosmos in a match against Mohun Bagan Athletic Club of Calcutta (as Kolkata was known then). That match, on September 24, 1977, ended in a 2-2 draw, and the Indian club team almost clinched victory.

The result is unimportant. What remains in memory – I got to see this as a member of Mohun Bagan Club – are the unbelievable technical nuances that the superstar showed onfield. He was 38 then, past his prime – he joined New York Cosmos after he retired from international football – but his footwork, his energy and his unbelievable skills were all on show.

Pele was in Kolkata again, in 2015, when he landed in New Delhi, where he witnessed the Subroto Cup U-17 final, before travelling to the football city on a week-long tour. But that was a muted tour.

Days before he arrived in Calcutta in 1977 – a huge, cheering crowd waited by the roadside as Pele and the Cosmos team travelled by bus to their hotel in central Calcutta – local media houses described his style of play, his special moves, and we, readers gobbled up each sentence. At the ground, it was a feast.

Eden, basically a cricket ground, was full to the brim – at least 80,000 – waiting for the star-studded Cosmos team, which also included Brazilian World Cup winner Carlos Alberto and Italian Giorgio Chinaglia. Mohun Bagan had players such as former India captain Subrata Bhattacharya, Pradeep Chowdhury, Shibaji Banerjee, Surajit Sengupta, Mohammed Habib and Akbar Ali.

We thought it would be a fun game, but Mohun Bagan players were determined to show off to world stars that India too was a powerhouse in the sport. I will not forget the incredible save that Shibaji Banerjee made off the boots of Pele, virtually risking his life. Shibaji never forgot this moment as long as he lived.

Each move was spectacular. His bicycle kick was not evident, but that special move in which Pele would bounce the ball off his own defender’s back to play dummy on his opponent, was. The player he used this time was Chinaglia. Chinaglia was not used to this special technique, and was somewhat startled, but Pele had achieved his purpose by then.

The big takeaway from this, for me, a football buff, was the sheer presence of a giant before me. More than that, it was Pele’s fitness at that age and his humility that floored me, as it did to Mohun Bagan players.

In my long journalistic career, I have met and interviewed several greats of sport around the world. But the memory of this day has stayed bright. The news of the death of Pele brings back these items from the past; memories that make one smile.

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Liverpool’s Jota, brother die in freak Lamborghini tyre blow-out in Spain

Published

9 months ago

July 4, 2025

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Portuguese football player Diogo Jota and his elder brother died in a road accident on Thursday in Spain’s Zamora when a tyre of their Lamborghini burst.

Jota’s brother Andre Silva was a footballer. Police said the accident occurred past midnight and the brothers were the only ones in the car and no other vehicle appears to be involved.

The police are yet to find out which of the two were was at the wheel. They said the accident may have been caused by a tyre blowout when they attempted to overtake another vehicle.

Spanish media have release video footage of the aftermath showing skid marks on the road along with a burnt-up car, surrounded by destroyed vegetation. A truck driver passing by the scene also caught the Lamborghini engulfed in video, which has since circulated by the local media.

The accident has occurred only 11 days after Jota’s wedding with Rute Cardoso. The couple had three children.

Jota played for English Premier League club Liverpool FC and also was part of the Portugal squad that beat Spain in the recent UEFA Nation’s League. His brother Andre Silva also played for Penafiel in the lower Portuguese leagues.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he has no words after the accident. As his football manager his thoughts are not for his team, it’s for his father, son, brother and uncles who are suffering an unimaginable loss, Slot said.

Portugal Prime Minister Luis Montenegro expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family and that it is a sad day for football. Jota was an athlete who greatly honoured Portugal’s name, he added.

Football news

Former England football captain David Beckham awarded knighthood

Published

9 months ago

June 14, 2025

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Former Manchester United and England football icon David Beckham received a knighthood on Saturday, recognising his stellar sporting career and extensive charitable contributions.

The prestigious title, bestowed upon British citizens for exceptional achievements in fields such as sport, politics, and arts, traces its origins to the Middle Ages.

Beckham, now 50, enjoyed a distinguished career, rising through Manchester United’s academy to spend 11 years with the club. His journey took him to Europe’s elite clubs, including Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain.

Internationally, he earned 115 caps for England, captaining the team 59 times and appearing in three World Cup tournaments. His trophy cabinet boasts six Premier League titles, a Champions League crown, and two FA Cups with Manchester United, alongside league titles with Real Madrid and PSG.

Renowned for his technical prowess and clutch performances, Beckham is celebrated for moments like his iconic free-kick against Greece, securing England’s qualification for the 2002 World Cup.

Reflecting on the knighthood, he expressed gratitude: “Captaining and playing for England was the greatest honour of my career—a childhood dream fulfilled. Off the pitch, representing Britain globally and working with remarkable organisations to support communities and inspire youth has been a privilege. I’m deeply proud and emotional to share this moment with my family, and it’s still sinking in.”

Beyond football, Beckham has made significant charitable impacts, notably through his partnership with UNICEF since 2005 and other organisations dedicated to aiding communities in need.

Football news

FIFA Awards 2022: World Cup winner Lionel Messi and Alexia Putellas win Best Player titles

Lionel Messi won the FIFA Best Men’s Player award for the second time.

Published

3 years ago

February 28, 2023

Lionel Messi has added another achievement to his account. Messi was voted FIFA’s best male player for the year 2022. Messi made Argentina the World Cup champion, ending a 36-year drought. He scored seven goals in this tournament.

On the other hand, Alexia Putellas won the female best player award at the FIFA football awards 2022.

Lionel Messi’s compatriot and coach Lionel Scaloni was named the best male coach. Scaloni guided the South Americans to the World Cup title. Messi, 35, left behind French forward Kylin Mbappe and Karim Benzema for this award. Apart from making Argentina the World Cup champion, Messi scored 27 goals in a total of 49 matches for the country and club in 2021-22.

What did Messi say on receiving the award?

Lionel Messi won the FIFA Best Men’s Player award for the second time. He said, ‘This is wonderful. It has been an amazing year and it is an honour for me to be here to receive the award. I wouldn’t be here without my teammates. I have achieved my long held dream. Only a few people achieve this and I feel fortunate to have done so.’

Lionel Scaloni, the coach who won Argentina the World Cup title, beat Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti at the ceremony in Paris. Guardiola led Manchester City to their sixth Premier League title. At the same time, Ancelotti had given Real Madrid the Champions League title.

England manager Sarina Wigman was voted the best women’s coach of the year. He guided England to the European Championship title last year. It was the team’s first major trophy. Aston Villa and Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez won the best goalkeeper award while England’s Mary Earps won the women’s award. Barcelona’s Alexia Putelas was voted the best female player of the year.

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