At the end, it was just only the beginning. As Mohammed Rafique headed in the winner in the 94th minute against Kerela Blasters, in front of a packed DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai, one could easily witness history being created. Atletico De Kolkata etched their names in gold becoming the first Hero Indian Super League Champion.
On the stands though, there were contrasting emotions. Atletico co owner Sourav Ganguly pumped his fists in joy, almost reminiscent of the famous shirtless Lord’s celebration over a decade ago. For someone, who has followed Indian cricket over the past 20 years, Dada has always been a man who taught us how to celebrate. As the cameras shifted focus, Kerela Blasters co owner and Cricketing Legend Sachin Tendulkar was in a bit pensive, reflecting what might have been had Michael Chopra’s shot not been saved heroically by Edel Bete minutes earlier.
Sachin was seen comforting his players, who gave their all but at the end it was a step too close yet too far. Sourav on the other hand took back stage allowing his players to revel in the moment, dragging co owners and everyone associated with his side. However, the greatest of gestures came when he dragged his best friend Sachin with himself asking the trophy to collect with him. A touch of class from the southpaw, who as Amitabh Bachchan once said in Ganguly’s documentary The Warrior Prince, Sourav always, had the ‘gift of timing’.
On the field both of these legends competed fiercely when pitted against each other, fought tooth and nail for India, yet off the field they are true sportsmen. Ahead of the final, the media had dubbed the contest as a Sachin vs Sourav final, yet how different was the metaphor on the field. Both of these legends have been friends for over two decades, sharing rooms quite often on foreign tours.
At half-time, both were seen joking around, as Dada placed his hand on his diminutive friend, both taking a vow to contribute to Indian Football. Sachin said, “ISL has got a terrific response, big thank you to all those who supported the tournament. It’s a new platform for both of us.” As Sourav responded, “Though we are in different teams, we are together for the game of football. ISL has been very competitive.”
It could easily be seen how rivalry can be transcended on the field but not off it. In a fierce competitive world, we perhaps can take something from these two icons. The Tendulkar-Ganguly partnership has bestowed innumerous great spectacles and has given enormous joy to every Indian. Now perhaps it’s time we harp on a fruitful yet ‘friendly’ competition. Constructive is the word as Friendship rules large between these two bigger than life icons in India.
As Charles Cooley had once said, “The general fact is that the most effective way of utilizing human energy is through an organized rivalry, which by specialization and social control is, at the same time, organized co-operation.”
