Late Subimal ‘Chuni’ Goswami

Skill, flair and perfection made Subimal ‘Chuni’ Goswami an excellent footballer but he will always be remembered as a star athlete from the golden era of Indian sports….

Chuni Goswami was born on 15-01-1938 in Kishorganj, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He completed his college degree from Kumar Ashutosh Institution, Calcutta (Kolkata).. He was an Indian Football Player & Cricket Player. Many called him an all-rounder– a player who could do everything whenever he took the field. But Subimal ‘Chuni’ Goswami was perhaps bigger than that….

In 1956, Goswami made his International debut for India. He played 50 international matches for India– Olympics, Asian Games, Asia Cup and Merdeka Cup. In 1962, under his captaincy, India won Gold Medal in Asian Games in jakarta and in 1964, India won Silver Medal in Tel Aviv and Merdeka Cup.Subimal ‘Chuni’ Goswami, the man who inspired India to the pinnacle of its footballing glory….

English football club Tottenham Hotspur had reportedly invited Goswami for a trial in England after India won gold in the Asian Cup finals, which he declined..He said he rejected the opportunity of a trial at England as there was so much uncertainty in playing abroad..
Tottenham was the biggest football club in London at the time and was managed by legendary English football player Bill Nicholson….

He was passionate about football from a very young age. He became a part of the Mohun Bagan junior team in 1946.Later on, he joined the Mohun Bagan senior team in 1954.Subimal ‘Chuni’ Goswami played for a single club, Mohun Bagan , throughout his career before his retirement in 1968.He captained the club in five seasons from 1960 to 1964.
Goswami played as a striker, In his debut match for Mohun Bagan, he played against Eastern Railways and scored a goal in its 3-0 win. He successfully led Mohun Bagan to three successive Durand Cup triumphs — 1963, 1964, 1965-66..He holds the record for maximum number of goals – 145 – in the Kolkata Football League….