This football goalkeeper of extraordinary ability, SS Narayan or Babu Narayan, as he was better known among peers and fans, excelled as custodian at the highest level and post-retirement tried to give back to the game for decades
SS Narayan
The sporting great combining high performance with humility, is a way to describe Shankar Subramaniam Narayan.
This football goalkeeper of extraordinary ability, SS Narayan or Babu Narayan, as he was better known among peers and fans, excelled as custodian at the highest level and post-retirement tried to give back to the game for decades.
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He passed away at home on Thursday on return from hospital post-surgery, leaving behind at 86, admirers across generations.
Physically and mentally alert for his age, Narayan got involved in football coaching at junior level and with city basketball post-retirement from active sport. India midfielder Steven Dias is among a fortunate few to gain insights on football and teamwork under him at the Bipin vacation camps.
Ardent sports lover
Present at major football, basketball tournaments in Mumbai, the ex-India goalkeeper and Maharashtra hoopster came across as a sports fan, happy to catch up with former teammates and recall old rivalries.
Two appearances for India at the Olympic Games (1956 Melbourne and 1960 Rome), the Asian Games (1964) gave him the opportunity to display class under the bar in international football.
Serving with distinction
Narayan earned a name representing Tata SC in Mumbai football, following stints with the famous Caltex club, Matunga AC, Indian Gymkhana. After retirement from competitive football, he served the Tatas group with distinction and put to use all the experience gained on and off the field in team sport.
India’s presence in Olympic football is absent, there was a time when the national team finished fourth at the 1956 Melbourne Games, under legendary coach SA Rahim and led by Samar Banerjee.
Narayan and the imposing Peter Thangaraj shared goalkeeping duties as part of the first Asian side in the Olympics semi-finals, going down 3-0 to Bulgaria in the bronze medal match.
Lanky frame and athleticism enabled the Mumbai goalkeeper to represent Maharashtra in the Santosh Trophy and also in basketball, a rare combo.
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