Alvito D'Cunha: The Making & Unmaking of East Bengal

Santanu Saraswati Kolkata, November 21:

For Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, the Wankhede Stadium, will always remain a venue of missed centuries. Tendulkar had a hundred in sight in his farewell and 200th Test, but fell for 74 in the first innings against the West Indies on the second day of the second cricket Test in Mumbai. He showed how a genius can keep overwhelming emotions under control as he scored a majestic 74 which came off 118 balls with 12 boundaries, in what will probably be his last international innings. Tendulkar was in supreme touch and looked determined to get his 52nd Test century, and second at this venue, handpicked by him for his farewell. His first and only Test century at the Wankhede was way back in 1997, a fine 148 against the Sri Lankans in the first innings. It was perhaps the last and the longest walk for the cricketing legend in his fairytale journey, after the ‘God of Cricket’, was done in by some extra bounce from spinner Narsingh Deonarine and the thick edge flew quickly to skipper Darren Sammy at first slip. Even the mere thought of cricket without Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is mind-boggling. For the last 24 years, the God of cricket had not just united our very diverse India, but had also struck out for global oneness, bringing fans all over the world some wonderful cricketing moments. Cricket is a sport driven by numbers. With 69 records in his kitty, Sachin stands taller than one can imagine. He holds just about every batting record worth owning in the game, including those for most runs and hundreds in Tests and ODIs, and most international runs. Sheer determination and unshakable focus on the target even after one has garnered name, fame and glory is in itself a great task, one which Sachin seemed to have mastered perfectly. From his school cricket days to debuting for India against Pakistan in Karachi to winning the World Cup for India in 2011 and now playing in his 200th Test match, Sachin never lost his focus. Day in and day out, one would have seen him at the nets, sweating it out even as the rest of us rejoiced when he stepped out to the pitch. He has held sway over all the bowlers in the game. Scoring runs came quite naturally to him due to his immaculate technique, impeccable timing, cool temperament, tremendous concentration and above all, his controlled aggression, which has left even the best of bowlers running out of ideas. Off the field too, he has always been a source of inspiration – like in the dressing room. The likes of Vi rat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina or Rohit Sharma, have all, at some point of time, spoken about how elated they felt when ‘God’ was present in the dressing room. His calm nature has helped defuse some ugly situations in the Indian cricket team’s dressing room. The Indian cricket team had risen in revolt against their then coach and the former New Zealand captain, John Wright, during India’s tour of England in 2002, it was revealed by the team manager, Rajeev Shukla, currently a Union Minister. Wright had slapped Virender Sehwag for the manner in which the latter had been dismissed in the ODI match at the Oval. The then captain, Sourav Ganguly, had wanted the New Zealander to apologize to Sehwag. As tension built up in the dressing room, Sachin requested Shukla to ensure that Wright’s dignity as coach was kept intact. He told Shukla to ensure that Wright did not apologize, as this would cause the latter to lose respect. Secondly, had it not been for Sachin, most of the players would have taken off their shirts and waved after the magnificent victory in the Natwest Trophy against England in 2002. Sourav wanted all the players to do this. Maybe he wanted to pay back Andrew Flintoff in the same coin. But Sachin felt that this ought not to be done, cricket being a gentleman’s game and all. If Sourav wanted to do it, he was welcome. Now, we know why cricket and Sachin are made for each other. After all it’s a gentleman’s game! Likewise, football-lovers around the globe--him be a fan of Messi, Maradona, Christiano Ronaldo or Pele, people will never forget the English--David Beckham--be it for his iconic hairstyle or "bend it like Beckham"  free-kicks just outside the penalty box.

Sports-persons, irrespective of their contributions, their fan-following and iconic image, should retire from their respective sports, just at the time when he or she, himself or herself would realize--the team has better substitutes for him. True, recently retired former England captain David Beckham has admitted he can't watch sport without feeling a 'pang of regret'. Beckham, who spent a glittering career at Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, added that he missed 'the buzz' but ultimately believes he made the right decision to retire when he did as he gets to spend more time with his family and pursue other interests. 'I feel this pang of regret whenever I watch sport; this sense that I will never play a big match again,' he said in an interview with The Times, recently. If Sachin can say bye to cricket forever, if soccer icon David Beckham can bid adieu to football, what has really stopped East Bengal's brand ambassador, Alvito D'Cunha following their right footprints? True, Alvito Ronaldo Correia D'Cunha, or our loving Alvi, has made enough contribution to Indian football as well as to his club East Bengal. But for the past three years or so, he hardly get a chance in the first 18th of the team. The former Indian national footballer, has hardly any role in the team than assisting the club management getting Goan players signing for East Bengal. But his detractors say, Alvi has interests in bringing players from Goa--and he is more an agent, than a brand ambassador of the club. Some even love coining Alvito as the great footballer, who could become greatest had he been into politics. And if East Bengal club insiders are to believe, starting from the coach to players, if someone has a tiff with these Goan, he could get an early, sometimes pre-mature exit from the club. Just like what really happened in case of the Brazilian coach, Marcos Falopa. The only coach with whom Alvi never tried implementing his policies of "Unmaking of of East Bengal" was the Briton, Trevor James Morgan. Morgan was intelligent unlike Falopa. Morgan did enough home work on team management before he took charge of East Bengal in 2009. The British was too good in understanding the psyche of his footballers and made more than 95 percent of players standing beside him--even during the hours of crisis. So an intelligent Alvi never tried implementing his wish lists as there was fear of players waging a revolt against his over-stay in the team. True, after the famous Asean Club Cup achievement, the Kingfisher East Bengal FC hardly got service from Alvito Ronaldo Correia D'Cunha. What the club got since then from these Goan left-footer, was whenever East Bengal wanted to rope in players from champion Goan clubs, Alvito helped his club signing the deal. Even, his critics say, he played a major role in closing the deal with Armando Colaco this year, just at the time when East Bengal was desperately seeking a big name in Indian football as its head coach for sailing through the i-League. True, the club didn't get i-League in the past 8 years, and chances of supporters revolting against the club was becoming eminent after the team lost to Dempo in their home match at Kalyani this year. Alvito really played a crucial role in bringing Armando Colaco in Kolkata football. If he played a major role in "Making of East Bengal" he also played roles for "Unmaking of East Bengal"--that's how a former East Bengal stopper loves saying, when he was asked about this Goan. If he really helped the club getting players like Joaquim Abranches, Ryuji Sueoka, this year, that can be well described as a mediator. "What is his contribution in East Bengal as a player since 2009? If Mohun Bagan can bid adieu to Jose Ramirez Barreto, why cant East Bengal offer a better alternative role to this Goan than including his name in the players list every year?", he asked. True, even a gentleman footballer like Barreto announced his retirement after this season. Barreto said that he would love getting involved in making next generation players for Indian clubs than occupying a jersy of his club forever. Subrata Bhattacharya, Subhash Bhowmik, Sabbir Ali did mistake by not qualifying themselves as Fifa pro-licence coach. Alvito can think of getting this done if he really wish to contribute to Indian football in a constructive manner! His one-time team mate and Indian icon Baichung Bhutia is running his own football club--United Sikkim FC. But Alvito is still in deep love of seeing his name in the East Bengal team list. Football lover, Arunava Choudhury in his blog once rightly wrote: Alvito Rolando Correia D'Cunha is a seasoned footballer on the Indian football circuit who has seen and done it all. Alvito was the first Goan to really make it on the Kolkata Maidans and now a decade later he is a living legend at East Bengal Club. But getting older also means looking at what one does after the end of the playing career and Alvito has to set his sights on coaching. Time is really getting over for this Goan and day is not faraway when even supporters will coin him as: "The making of Alvito D'Cunha: The Unmaking of East Bengal" . I wish Alvito my best with positive hopes of him bidding adieu to football soon, at least for making room for youngsters to get included in team list again.