On the Anvil of World Cup in Qatar this year Soccer fans from all over the world are to witness a Month long Football Frenzy season .In our city where many football greats have played both national and International games and our own Sait Nagjee Purushotam Football tournament where Indian clubs from calcutta known as mecca of football and also from other parts of the country including teams from Kerala. The three major football clubs of Kolkatta erstwhile calcutta were always a crowd puller and is the main attraction of the tournament Though my favourite is Mohun Bagan i like Mohammedan Sporting for their grittiness and East Bengal as an Arch rival. Though kerala has produced many football players who donned the National Colours I vividly remember Premnath Phillips who was a mainstay of Mohammedan Sporting and led them to victory during his Ten years of stint with kolkatta giant including Mohun Bagan in his entire career span of fifteen years before returning to Kerala. He was a reliable defender and his position was Right full back along with other stalwarts in defence from Bengal like Manoranjan Bhattacharya a [Stopper - Centre Full back] Subrata Bhattacharya also a Right full back and Shyamal Banerjee in Left full back position in the 80's .He had also represented Two States Bengal and Maharashtra other than Native State Kerala .Kerala alongwith West Bengal are traditional football friendly states and has similarity in political front as well with their ideological inclination towards communism and to football since its a mass game .
Premnath Phillips is into coaching Nowadays and is heading an Academy to nurture football talents here in our Home town Calicut
Mohammedan SC captain Premnath Philip with wads of cash awarded after winning inaugural All Airlines Gold Cup in 1986. MSC received a cash prize of ₹65,000 with a 3-2 win over Mohun Bagan in the final thanks to goals from Chima Okorie (2) & Jamshed Nassiri #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/SEYfdvqExw
— IndianFootball_History (@IndianfootballH) February 28, 2022
