KOLKATA: While India take on Bangladesh in their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier here on Tuesday evening, ex-India internationals took a stroll down the memory lane on the legacy of famous Bangladeshi footballers late Monem Munna, Sheikh Mohammad Aslam and Rizvi Karim Rumi, who had stints at East Bengal in the 1990s.
“Munna was a great footballer. He was a centre-back, but East Bengal coach Syed Nayeemuddin used him as a central midfielder. Munna became even more effective in that new position,” remembered former India captain Prasanta Banerjee.
The trio of Munna, Aslam and Rumi others game changers, but currently Bangladesh don’t have players of such calibre.
“Munna was a very enthusiastic player. Rumi was a good ballplayer, but Munna was far ahead of the rest in his all-round ablilities. We used to hang around with them in Kolkata after the trainings. I was sad when I heard that he died of kidney ailment. I still can’t believe. He was only 39,” said Bhaskar Ganguly, one of India’s best goalkeepers.
Bikash Panji, who played along side the Bangladeshis, said, “Munna was more effective than Rumi. He was a great team-mate. He was quite simple and friendly. That is why the footballers of Bangladesh are very relaxed. It was shocking that Munna died so young.”
“The biggest quality of Munnar’s game was his defensive ability. Munna was the real star in that East Bengal squad,” added Prasanta.
With the Bangladeshis, the red and gold brigade had won the Calcutta League in 1991, 1993 and 1995 respectively.
“The best midfielder I’ve seen was Munna. At Abahani, he used to play as central defender. But he adapted well in his new position,” said former East Tarun Dey.
