BRAVE HEARTS

Olympic gold is a dream for any sportsperson in this world. Nwankwo Kanu achieved that dream; he was a key member of the Nigerian national football team that won the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. After returning from a successful campaign he underwent a routine medical examination at his then club Italian giants Internazionale Milan. After a sweet dream harsh reality was in store for Kanu. That medical examination revealed that he had a serious heart problem and he underwent an open heart surgery in November 1996 to replace an aortic valve and did not return to his club until April 1997. After such a blow he came back to play football and won prestigious trophies like the English Premier league title, the FA cup with Arsenal and Portsmouth.

Croatian international Ivan Klasnic isn't just an international footballer. In January 2007 news came out that Klasnic suffered kidney failure. In an operation he received a kidney from his mother, but his body rejected the organ and he had to have a second operation in which he received his father's kidney and this time the transplantation was successful. He returned to play for his club side Werder Bremen of Germany and then went on to play for Croatia at Euro2008 this summer.

And we have an Indian example too - goalkeeper Chinmoy Banerjee. He got noticed at the age of sixteen when he was with Eastern Railway SC, Calcutta. Soon he received a call-up to the India under-16 national camp. It was a big opportunity for him and he was very much eager to make the final probable's list. But on the very first day he underwent a medical examination and the check-up revealed that he had a serious problem. Another medical examination in Mumbai confirmed that he suffered from leukaemia. His football career was under threat, but he is another one of those brave hearts. So he didn't give it up. After a long period of treatment he was back in action. But everyone was sceptical about his fitness and ability. After two odd years he joined Calcutta's Salkia Friends SC and he was again in the news headlines for his superb performances against bigger clubs in the Calcutta Super Division. But he couldn't outwit his team's relegation. Next season he joined Milan Bithee SC. And after two good seasons with them, he got a call from the Bengal under-21 camp. This time he secured his place in the squad and Bengal went on to clinch the title. After returning from championships he signed for then NFL side Tollygunge Agragami.
The biggest moment of his career came soon after that. The IFA (West Bengal) organised an experimental one-day football tournament that season named the Libero Cup. The top four teams of Calcutta - East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan Sporting and Tollygunge Agragami participated in that football fest. The only difference to a normal football match was the shorter duration. Chinmoy saved two spot kicks each in two consecutive penalty shootouts against the Maidan big two East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. Chinmoy was the hero of the night for Tollygunge Agragami and he was declared man of the tournament and awarded a Yamaha Libero motorbike.
Chinmoy performed well in the National League with Tollygunge Agragami to save them from relegation. He then went on to join Mohammedan Sporting and was instrumental in helping the club to regain their NFL status. He is now playing for Amity United FC in Haryana and he went on to represent Haryana in last edition of the Santosh Trophy.
Chinmoy is an unsung hero of Indian football, one of sadly many. Hopefully he will keep continuing his form and maybe make India proud one day.