Malappuram: At the Kottappadi Stadium in Malappuram, time seemed to roll back like a well-placed football as the golden generation of the Kerala Police team took the field for one final match.

Leading the charge was the legendary striker I M Vijayan, flanked by A Sakkeer on the left and P Habeeb Rehman on the right. The midfield was anchored by P P Thobias, his elder brother Henri Shajan and Sudhir Kumar, while in defense, Kurikesh Mathew, Alex Abraham, K Rajesh and C P Ashokan stood firm. Guarding the goalpost was the ever-reliable K T Chacko.

Excitement hit the sky when a massive crowd gathered at the stadium to bid farewell to the legends of the Kerala Police team. Many of those in the stands were fans who had once roared for the team during their golden era in the early 1990s. The friendly match, titled Vijayolsavam, was organised as a tribute to I M Vijayan, Roy Rojas and C P Ashokan - former stalwarts of the team who are soon to retire from the Kerala Police.

Vijayan had first donned the Kerala Police jersey on this very ground during the Kaumudi Trophy in 1988. And on Monday, he walked out off that ground for the final time, wearing the same colours. With his retirement, the final link to the legendary Kerala Police team of the 1990s was severed as I M Vijayan is the last torchbearer of an era that once reigned over Indian football.

While the match ended in a draw, every movement on the field stirred emotion as fans hoped to see one last goal from Vijayan. Though the goal never came, flashes of his genius were still evident on the field. His trademark back-heel flicks, visionary through balls and long-range shots drew cheers and waves of nostalgia.

By the time the final whistle blew, the sun was dipping beyond the stands. In the soft glow of twilight, Kerala’s brightest football star took off his jersey one last time. I M Vijayan will officially retire from Kerala Police on April 30.

TAGS