When the men in uniform excelled on football pitch

Shyam Thapa, a name that resonates with Indian football's golden era, needs little introduction. A key member of the Indian team that clinched bronze at the 1970 Asian Games, the Dehradun-born striker rose to iconic status in the 1970s as Kolkata football's 'Rock Star'.

- TRIDIB BAPARNASH

Renowned for his acrobatic back volleys, clutch performances, and legendary spells with both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, Thapa became one of the most electrifying and beloved figures in Indian football, drawing massive crowds wherever he played.

Yet, Shyam Thapa, now 77, and living in Kolkata, turns nostalgic whenever a mention of the 1969 Durand Cup is made. In the final, Thapa, playing for the mighty Army side, Gorkha Brigade, scored the all-important goal in the 1-0 win over Border Security Force.

"I was hardly 19 when I won the Durand Cup for the first time. It made me a national star, all because of Gorkha Brigade. When we returned to Dehradun with the trophy, the railway station was crowded with fans. A procession was arranged with the team and the Durand Cup from the station through the main roads of Dehradun. Twice more, I won the Durand with East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, but nothing could beat this," he said.

In the pre-Independence era, barring once in 1940, the British Regimental sides had an absolute monopoly over the Durand Cup. It wasn't so when the tournament was restarted in 1950 after a gap of 10 years. In the years to follow till 2024, the Army teams have lifted the Durand Cup six times, though they came very close to it on several occasions.