Trip Down Memory Lane Former Indian Forward Marcellus Gomes Reminisces India’s Runners-Up Finish at 1982 Esanda Cup

The 1982 Esanda Cup was held a few weeks after the 1982 Delhi Asian Games campaign, where the Indian men’s hockey team as hosts, had to settle for a deeply disappointing silver medal after being inflicted a 1-7 crushing defeat by arch-rivals Pakistan at the National Stadium. There was ‘so much at stake’ for the Indian team as they embarked on a tour of Australia to participate in the 1982 Esanda Cup that was held at Melbourne.

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In the context of Indian hockey it was a crucial to obliterate the memories of the 1982 Delhi Asian Games campaign, and the Zafar Iqbal-captained Indian team did precisely did that, not just exacting sweet revenge over Pakistan in the pool phase but also going on to pull off a runners-up finish before losing to formidable Australia in the final at Melbourne.

India topped Pool A that featured the likes of arch-rivals Pakistan, Netherlands, Malaysia, and China, while hosts Australia, West Germany, New Zealand, England, and Canada were placed in Pool B. “Indian team was going through a low after losing the 1982 Asian Games final to Pakistan in a pretty one-sided affair. We played the Esanda Cup two weeks after the 1982 Asiad, and our manager late Balbir Singh Senior gave me and Syed Ali gave us an opportunity in the playing XI over Mervyn Fernandes and Mohammed Shahid for the first game against Pakistan,” recalls former Indian forward Marcellus Gomes in an exclusive interview with Hockey Passion.

(Indian men’s hockey team for the 1982 Esanda Cup held at Melbourne)

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India’s tournament opener against arch-rivals Pakistan was a window opportunity to make amends for the Delhi Asiad disappointment and the team rose to the occasion eking out a 2-1 win. “It was a close match where we took the lead and subsequently Pakistan equalised and honours were shared at half-time. Our captain Zafar Iqbal scored the match-winner in the second half – the win really lifted our morale and we grew in confidence as the tournament wore on. Goalkeeper Romeo James had an outstanding day in the cage frustrating the Pakistan forwardline to no end – I remember Syed Ali had a great match and was one of the finds for us in the pool phase,” recounts the 64-year-old former crafty forward, who made his senior international debut during the 1981 Europe tour (tours to Italy, Spain, and West Germany).

(Seen in picture from left to right Mohammed Shahid, Marcellus Gomes, Vineet Kumar ( back to camera ) the goal scorer and Rajinder Singh Junior during the match vs the Netherlands)

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The Zafar Iqbal-led Indian outfit built on the momentum gained in the tournament opener against Pakistan and subsequently scripted a famous 2-1 win over the redoubtable Netherlands. “There was an extra spring in our stride after our win over Pakistan when we took on the Dutch. I gave India the lead converting a penalty stroke beating Netherlands goalkeeper Pierre Hermans to his right – it was my maiden international goal but the Dutch restored parity and the match was on an even kneel for most part. We scored the match-winner in the closing minutes of the match when Vineet Sharma fired home a penalty corner. I used to stop the short corner when it was injected whenever I was in the playing XI. The victory against the Dutch was hugely satisfying because they were a strong side and had the likes of Ties Kruize, Cees, Jan Diepeveen, Floris Bovelander among others in their ranks,” quips Gomes, who made his last international appearance at the 1987 Indira Gandhi Gold Cup.

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India got the better of Malaysia and China to maintain a clean slate in Pool A and as pool toppers locked horns in Pool B second-finished side New Zealand in the semifinal. “It was a tight game where I played for a brief while. I can’t recall who scored the goals for India but we won by the odd goal in five,” he says. Interestingly, Gomes did not play in all the matches after meaningful contributions in the first two games against Pakistan and the Netherlands.

Marcellus Gomes

Indian men performed creditably to make it to the final where they ran into Australia, who took them to the cleaners in a 6-1 win – the Kookaburras rode on a four-goal hat-trick by Terry Walsh. “Australia were a strong unit with the likes of Ric Charlesworth, Craig Davies, Colin Batch and Terry Walsh. Of course, we did not want a one-sided match – the things with Australia is that if you are able to hold off Australia for the first fifteen minutes then you can have a close match but if you concede two or three goals in the first fifteen minutes of play, it is tough to mount a comeback,” reasons Gomes.

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It is interesting to note that the Indian largely fielded the same Delhi Asian Games squad in the 1982 Esanda Cup. Defender Manohar Toppo replaced injured Rajinder Singh Senior (he was grappling with a knee injury).

Gomes was also part of the national team in various international tournaments such as the 1983 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (inaugural edition) as well as the 1986 London World Cup. He was part of the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games squad but spend his time in the dugout. “I did not get much to play in the 1982 Asiad and as you know, there were no rolling substitutions in those days. We had great stalwarts like Mohammad Shahid, Mervyn Fernandez, Zafar Iqbal, and Charanjit Kumar. Jalauddin Rizvi and me were the reserve forward players.”

The Mumbaikar, who was employed with Mahindra & Mahindra, still cherishes the goal he scored in a 1983 Four Nation Tournament at Kuwait. “The tournament was played on grass – I vividly recall there was a cross from the left and I deflected home – I consider this as my favourite international goal,” he sounds excited.

Images Credit: Marcellus Gomes