John, a name that got lost in era of big guns

Fortune does not always favour the brave. This was evident in the case of Victor John, a calm, composed and elegant defender of the 1960s who died last week at his Secunderabad residence at the age of 73. During his playing days he bravely overcame injuries and the stigma that he was slow to become one of the most reliable central defenders in India. Yet he played for India on only two occasions, the 1967 and 1968 Merdeka football tournaments in Malaysia.

John was a classy defender but had the misfortune of playing in an era when India had many other stalwarts in defence. The competition he faced was intense. In his heyday for a place in the national team he had to compete against four of India’s finest central defenders, the incomparable Jarnail Singh, twice Asian All Stars captain, Syed Nayeemuddin, C. Prasad and veteran Arun Ghosh.

John’s football skills were nurtured and developed in the twin cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad, a region which produced many internationals for two decades after Independence. Sadly after legendary coach S. Rahim’s death in 1963, the flow of talent from that area ceased. John was amongst the last group of players who grew up in that era of excellence in Hyderabad football.

He moved to Mohammedan Sporting in 1966 and became a regular in their defence but in the 1966 Durand quarter-final, was exposed by Gorkha Brigade’s relentless attacks. Spearheaded by speedy Bhupender Singh Rawat, with Ranjit Thapa providing the passes and Amar Bahadur on the left flank, Gorkha Brigade humiliated Mohammedan Sporting 4-0. In this match John was vulnerable against speedy forwards and his recovery needed to improve.

He worked tirelessly, improved his anticipation, timing of his tackles and speed and was a much better player in 1967. It was a glorious year for Mohammedan Sporting. They won the prestigious Calcutta league after a decade and John marshaled the defence. He excelled in the league and became a favourite of the vociferous supporters. Admirers would often send in delicious sweetmeats and occasionally his favourite food, a large pot of biryani from the Royal in Chitpore Road, after a crucial victory.

Both John and his club skipper, midfielder Bidyut Mazumdar, were selected for India. In 1968, three players from Mohammedan Sporting, John, striker N. Pappana and inside forward Sadatullah Khan were in the India team for the Merdeka tournament.

Much to his dismay, John missed out on selection for the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games, in which India won a bronze medal. Nayeem was captain and C. Prasad the other automatic choice in defence. The slot for the reserve central defender went to the sturdy Kalyan Saha of Mohun Bagan.

History has an uncanny way of repeating itself. His younger brother Victor Amalraj a dynamic midfielder in the 1980s for Mohammedan Sporting and Mohun Bagan, also could not get selected for the India squad for the 1982 Delhi Asian Games. India then had a talented midfield trio of Parminder Singh, Prasun Banerjee and Prasanta Banerjee. Fareed pipped Amalraj for the reserve midfielder in the squad. Amalraj played for India, in the Nehru Cup and other international tournaments but like his brother John missed selection for the Asian Games.