Bengaluru's Football Legends: The Men Who Shaped Indian Soccer
In a nation predominantly captivated by cricket, Bengaluru has emerged as a significant nursery for football talent, producing players who have left an indelible mark on Indian football. Notably, the localities of Austin Town and Gowthampura have been fertile grounds for nurturing this passion.
Narayanaswami Ulaganathan, hailing from Gowthampura—often referred to as 'Little Brazil'—holds the distinction of scoring the first hat-trick in the Durand Cup while playing for Mohun Bagan. Recalling his early days, Ulaganathan said, 'Poongam Kannan, Sattar Basheer, Ambrose would complete their league in Kolkata and come to play in Gowthampura, and we would also practise with them.' His journey began with Bangalore Mars Football Club, and after joining CIL, he played alongside Krishnaji Rao, Noor, and Amjad Khan. In 1972, he represented India at the Olympic qualifiers in Burma. The following year, he participated in the Merdeka tournament in Malaysia, and in 1974, he joined Mohun Bagan, where he played for three years, followed by a three-year stint with East Bengal. He also played for Mohammedan Sporting FC for a year. Ulaganathan represented India at the 1974 Asian Games in Iran and the Kings Cup in South Korea, retiring in 1985. He has received two awards from the West Bengal government—'Banga Ratna' and 'Banglar Gaurav'—and currently serves as the brand ambassador for the Karnataka Football Association.
C. Ravi Kumar, another footballer from Austin Town, made over 25 international appearances for India. A striker known for his skills, he began at Bangalore Mars Club and later played for CIL, BEL, and ITI. Kumar represented the country five times between 1983 and 1987 and played ten times in the Santosh Trophy. After his stint with Mohun Bagan, he returned to Bengaluru. Reflecting on changes in the game, he remarked, 'Today, whatever the manager or coach says, players have to follow. Those days, talent was important. Players could follow their technique.'
R. Mohan, former vice-president of the Bangalore District Football Association and another Austin Town product, represented Mohammedan Sporting Club. His father, T.L. Ramaswamy, had represented Karnataka and played for Kalighat Club in 1936. Mohan began his journey in 1969 at the Regional Coaching Camp in Bengaluru and joined the Railways team in 1973. In 1975, he played for the junior national team in Manipur, where Karnataka lost to Bengal in the semifinals. He then moved to Kolkata, playing for Mohammedan Sporting Club in 1977. Mohan credited Syed Naeemuddin, former captain of the Indian football team, for teaching him the basics. He later returned to Bengaluru and played for local clubs, including HAL Football Club, where he spent 15 years.
Noel Anthony William, another footballer from Austin Town who represented India between 1998 and 2002, graduated from the Tata Football Academy. He noted the absence of age-group tournaments in his time, saying, 'We used to play open tournaments like the Durand Cup.' With the advent of the Indian Super League (ISL), William advised players not to become complacent despite improved facilities. 'With facilities like nutrition, dietitian, and health and conditioning coach, players should make use of them and perform well for the national team. But they are not playing in the national team because they are getting better money in clubs. A player who plays for the national team should be paid more,' he added.
