Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s football history is adorned with golden memories as the state celebrates the golden jubilee, the 50th anniversary, of its first Santosh Trophy title victory. Today also marks the 30th anniversary of Kerala securing the Santosh Trophy title in 1993 under the coaching leadership of T.A. Jaffer, who sadly passed away yesterday.
TKS Mani, captaining the Kerala team, secured a thrilling 3-2 victory against Indian Railways and clinched the first Santhosh Trophy title at the Maharajas College ground in Kochi. The victory moment was witnessed by around half a million spectators.
Kerala’s journey to the Santosh Trophy triumph involved overcoming challenges and showcasing exceptional teamwork. Starting with a draw against Delhi, the team went on to conquer Manipur and Andhra Pradesh, followed by a victory over Karnataka in the quarterfinals. The semi-final clash against mighty Maharashtra proved to be a significant hurdle, but Kerala emerged victorious and secured their spot in the final. Captain TKS Mani’s hat-trick and goalkeeper Jee Ravindran Nair’s outstanding performance played pivotal roles in securing Kerala’s first Santosh Trophy title.
The football community in Kerala fondly remembers the eleven heroes who made history on that day. The players, including Captain TKS Mani, T A Jaffer (vice captain), P Poulose, KP Ratnakaran, Victor Manila, C C Jacob, Victor Manjilla, Ravi, and Blassey George, left an indelible mark on the field.
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