MUNICH Olympics is a watershed one in the annals of field hockey: a Non-Asian winning the gold after 1920, Indians missing out the final second time in trot, and a medal winning entire Olympics team (Pakistan) banned for misconduct.
One man who saw everything happening not on the stands but being part of the playing community is Avatar Singh Burji.
Typically an Indian, of Sikh hockey provenance but representing an African country in Munich!
Avtar, 70, now lives in London, was one among the eleven Indians in the Uganda team, only outfit that drew ultimate winners West Germany.
Then of buzzing 20+, the midfielder saw history unfolding for Europe, humiliation coming to giants of the day India and Pakistan.
He vividly remembers every moment of Munich as if it all happened the other day.
India was a good side. They were equal to Pakistan in every department in the semis. But I observed they were a bit scared of their reputed rivals, Pakistan, I must say, asserts Avatar.
For instant, Indian left half Harmik Singh, who was also leading the side, was completely off colour that day. He was excellent in form till then. His lack of form helped Pakistan launch numerous raids from the right, which proved the Indians undoing.
I was playing left-half that’s why I observed him very minutely and closely, and still remember every moment, says Avtar with a pain in his eyes.
“He was obviously sacred of his rival team, I thought then.
Indian forwards on the other hand, right winger MP Ganesh was penetrative, so also BP Govinda. Young Ashok Kumar was shaping up, his individual game was not good for the team.
He used to run diagonal with the ball, kind of runs that bypasses many other field positions and somehow spoils the show”.
“The Indians should have been more aggressive and asserted by they nurtured a fear against defending champions and thus lot the semis with a slenderest of margins.
I feel the penalty corner given against Pakistan which turned out to be the lone goal is definitely controversial.
The Germans were not straight in taking the penalty. They delayed the push. Pakistanis were made to rush
out before the push, and twice push retaken. Its umpiring oversight or mistake. Pakistan definitely felt cheated.
Their behaviour during the victory ceremony was distasteful. I saw Shahnaz Sheikh dropping his medal
to his leg, which did not escape many eyes. Then every other Pakistan player also did the same. It was a shameful conduct from any team
Many years later too I observed him in a same predicament of different kind.
He was manager when Pakistan players allegedly misbehaved with chest thumping after defeating India at the Bhubneswar Champions Trophy.
He must have known the consequence of such acts of misconducts, still allowed things go the way they went in India.”, says Avtar.
Avtar, who is often called Surrey Icon as he played for the
County side for seven fruitful seasons, carving a niche for himself before migrating to Kenya.
Avtar in his 70s is still active, coaching Clubs and then finding new moorings in press photography.
PIC Caption: Top: Uganda-Indian Avtar Burji tackling Islahuddin Siddique of Pakistan at the Munich Olympic pool match
Indians at the Munich Olympics with Harbinder Singh in the forefront, Ashok Kumar at the far right. Avtar Singh with jersey no.14, sandwiched between the two.