SS Narayan, a sporting great with humility

The sporting great combining high performance with humility is a way to describe Shankar Subramaniam NarayanThis 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 postretirement tried to give back to the game for decadesHe passed away at home on Thursday on return from hospital postsurgery leaving behind at 86 admirers across generationsPhysically and mentally alert for his age Narayan got involved in football coaching at junior level and with city basketball postretirement 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 campsArdent sports loverPresent at major football basketball tournaments in Mumbai the exIndia goalkeeper and Maharashtra hoopster came across as a sports fan happy to catch up with former teammates and recall old rivalriesTwo 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 footballServing with distinctionNarayan 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 sportIndiarsquos 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 BanerjeeNarayan and the imposing Peter Thangaraj shared goalkeeping duties as part of the first Asian side in the Olympics semifinals going down 30 to Bulgaria in the bronze medal matchLanky frame and athleticism enabled the Mumbai goalkeeper to represent Maharashtra in the Santosh Trophy and also in basketball a rare combo