Bonding with Bidesh was all about love and respect: Manas

CALCUTTA (India): Former India international Manas Bhattacharya was a household name when Calcutta Football League was the be-all and end-all for the Bengalis, whose visit to the Maidan was a part of their culture.

But Bhattacharya’s popularity wouldn’t have reached sky-high without best friend and left-winger Bidesh Bose.

They became one of the most sought players due to their on field chemistry. The pair had helped Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan Sporting and Bengal win multiple trophies.

Manas-Bidesh asset for Mohammedan

Mohammedan, in fact, gained a lot from their presence as they won the Calcutta League in 1981.

Bhattacharya scored the only goal against Rajasthan Club in the match which decided the title in Mohammedan’s favour.

Incidentally, it was after 1967 that they won the title and till date remains their only league win.

Still shares a strong partnership

After their retirement, they forged their excellent understanding into a commercial partnership. They launched a football manufacturing unit, with their brand ‘joyee’ (winner) which signified football’s fight against poverty. 

Bhattacharya shared his football journey with www.khelupdates.com in an exclusive interview. Excerpts.

KU: Tell us about your childhood days.

MB: I started playing without any football kit. I used to play with a small rubber ball, but it helped me improve ball-control skills.

The sport really turned me on the day when our school (Batanagar HS) was given a grand reception after their victory at the Subroto Cup in 1963. I was in fourth standard then. Those scenes of joy motivated me to become a footballer. Later, I enrolled myself at a training programme under our school captain Amitava Ghosh. He was a great help during my initial years.

KU: How did you join Calcutta Gymkhana?

MB: I was a regular striker in school and in college also. One of my well-wishers Swapan Lahiri took me to the BG Press ground at Maidan, where Calcutta Gymkhana organized trial matches for 250 boys.

I only played for a couple of minutes, but Gymkhana owner Mr Dilip Ghosh was so much impressed with my long-rangers that he expressed his willingness to train me personally.

In 1973, I was included in their team’s first XI against Mohun Bagan and scored a goal. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Surajit Sengupta scoring for Bagan.

KU: When did you meet Bidesh?

MB: Bidesh joined Aryan from Bhratri Sangha in 1974. I also joined him the same year. But we got closer and eventually became good friends for ever following an incident during the Junior National Championships in Tripura in 1973.

Our team was put up in a school building, where I stayed on the ground floor while Bidesh was on the first.

Sacrifice…

During one of the breaks, when the team was leaving for a sightseeing tour I didn’t see Bidesh in the bus. I was told by someone that he was running high fever.

I immediately rushed to his home. He was shivering. I got very upset with the team manager Pashupati Bhattacharya after I was told that Bidesh wasn’t served food the previous night. I cancelled the trip and brought some food for him. I stayed with him the entire day. It was the beginning of a solid friendship, which only got stronger as the years wore on.

KU: So, both of you were together ever since?

MB: In a way, yes. When he signed for Bagan in 1976, I joined him the next year. While we were at Aryan, we got a job at AG Bengal on the same day and then had quit and joined Central Bank of India together.

We had a great understanding on the field and had scored most of the goals from his corners.

Our bonding on and off the field is all about respect and love. After my wife’s death, I was completely broken. But it was his inspirational words which had helped me to return to normalcy.

Manas Bhattacharya

KU: Who else had boosted your career?

MB: Subhash Bhowmick, who was my team-mate at Bagan, and Achyut sir. I won’t ever forget their contributions. Bhowmick had taught me the tricks of dodging and how to hoodwink an opponent player. Achyut sir improved my shooting skills after the scheduled trainings.

KU: Do you remember any of your memorable matches?

MB: It’s difficult to give a count, but the match against Cosmos in 1977 will rank as one of the most important matches. We didn’t had the opportunity to talk to Pele, but shook hands with him before the match. Then the 1978 IFA Shield final against Ararat Yerevan and 1978-79 Santosh Trophy in Srinagar, where I had scored the only goal against Goa in the final were some of my memorable matches.