Hakim's 'golden goal' helps Kerala lift Santosh Trophy

By Nandakumar Marar

MUMBAI, NOV. 17. Kerala's fortunes swung up and down like waves on a choppy sea. Down by a third minute goal against Goa, the sombre mood turned into ecstasy after a first half resurgence in which Abdul Hakim pumped in two goals, followed by second half blues as the game drifted away, a 2-2 stalemate forcing the 57th Santosh Trophy National football championship final to be decided in extra-time. Fatigue and tension set in for both teams before a Hakim masterstroke, a `golden goal', sent Kerala on a high from which it will take some time to recover. Who cares, let the celebrations begin.

Kerala won 3-2 to be crowned the national champion for the fourth time in 10 appearances. The taste of victory sweeter this time because the 23-year-old State Bank of Travancore striker, the golden boy of the final, finished as the tournament's top scorer with seven goals against his name, pipping fellow Statemate, Ashif Saheer (six goals). Together these two sinewy, slippery strikers vindicated coach M.Peethambaran's belief that his team will get the goals, come what may. India's champion football State also received Rs. 3 lakh for its effort, the 17 goals scored by this determined bunch worth much, much more for the football faithfuls who packed the Cooperage.

Indian football will remain indebted to this Kerala side for renewing the belief that the world's number sport can still remain a beautiful game. ``I didn't know where the ball went, what happened after that. My mind was blank,'' confessed Hakim, after netting the `golden goal', the most valuable goal of the tournament in the second half of extra-time. Receiving a long pass from Bineesh.K, he trapped and hit on the turn, the ball taking off between the legs of Goan stoppers Mahesh Gawli and Seby Coelho then deviating a little before entering the net near the right post. Goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey stood rooted to the goalline, unsighted by his defenders, waiting for a sight of a white blur but hearing only the hiss high to his left as the ball struck the netting.

Hakim exploded into joy, took off his jersey, took off on a victory run as the Kerala fans danced with abandon in the stands. Goal number three for him in the final, mission accomplished for coach Peethambaran, the I-told-you-so expression on his face. ``I told you we will win, we will score more goals than Goa. I knew this team could be beaten. This is a very important day for Kerala football,'' said the Ollur native, speaking with quiet confidence at a time when the emotion overflowed in the other members of his victorious squad. ``Teamwork and goals are my idea of football. This team has proved me right.''

Goa, shattered by this Hakim special, walked off in silence, unable to comprehend the extreme emotions. The team scored the first goal of the final, Abhay Kumar sweeping in a Noel Wilson corner kick after Ratan Singh has sold the dummy (3rd) minute. The match was still in early stages when Kerala equalised in the 13th minute, Hakim taking off on a S.Ignatious long ball, holding off a defender's challenge, seemingly losing the ball, catching up with it a few steps later and scoring with a snap shot. Goa custodian Choubey read the flight of the ball, leapt up and reached out to his right but in vain. He was beaten again in the 20th minute, the Kerala striker sweeping home a perfect Saheer ground pass from the right into the goalmouth.

Kerala spend the second half in hot pursuit, the Goans proving very effective with the ball as the defence and midfield played true to form. Then came a bolt from the blue for the champion in the form of a penalty, referee J.Ravishankar penalising a hand- ball infringement by Vinu Jose near the goalmouth, the Kerala defender hustled by Abhay Kumar into making a hasty clearance. Noel Wilson converted with ease, tapping the ball to the left post. Buoyed by this timely equaliser, Goa went on the offensive but found the attack robbed off its sting when dangerous Levy Coelho had to be replaced due to a head injury. Clifford Miranda came in for tireless Ratan Singh.

Two screaming diagonal passes across the goalmouth saw the Kerala goal under pressure, but Abhay Kumar's late arrival on both occasions robbed Goa of possible goals. With the pressure mounting on the defence, Kerala goalkeeper Purushothaman.T.G came up with timely saves, displaying his confidence in aerial collections. Then came the final whistle, signalling the end of regulation time as the match moved into extra-time, both teams exhausted and watchful, like boxers bouncing around the ring waiting for an opportunity to unleash the knockout punch. Kerala did it first through a Hakim golden goal, the first of his career, giving his fans in his home State to celebrate. According to team members, the State government had promised to declare a holiday the day after Kerala won the Santosh Trophy.

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