Shimla-the birthplace of the Durand Cup and the Indian Air Force ...

heroes
The memorable Gorkha Brigade
By Novy Kapadia
In 1996, the Gorkha Brigade lost in the first round of the
pre-Durand tournament 0-1 to the local league runners
up Hindustan F.C. On their way to their first ever Durand
triumph (Shyam Thapa’s exploits enabled them win once
again in 1969), Gorkha Brigade beat Leaders Club, Jalandhar
4-1, Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) Bikaner of Magan
Singh fame, 0-0 and 8-0, former champions Mohammedan
Sporting 4-0 in the quarter finals, holders Mohun Bagan 2-0 in
the semi final and the mighty Sikh Regimental Centre (SRC) 2-0
in the final to win the Durand tournament, with an enthralling
display of speedy, attacking football.
In the last decade of the 20th century, the once mighty Gorkhas
were a pale shadow of their all conquering unit of years ago.
The decline was an apt reflection of changing values in society
and receding interest in regimental sports. In the 1966 Durand
tournament, three of the semi finalists were regimental teams
from the Services, Gorkha Brigade, SRC and EME Secundrabad.
Bagan was the only civilian side in the last four of the Durand
tournament.
Gorkha’s owed their 1966 triumph to their brilliant quintet
of forwards, outside right Rawat, inside right Ranjit Thapa,
nippy centre forward
Bhupinder Singh Rawat,
dapper, diminutive
inside left Tika Ram
Gurung and wily left
winger Amar Bahadur,
Their skill, speed, thrust
and goal scoring abilities
were a source of wonder
and delight. They
were ably supported
by indefatigable Nar
Singh as left half.
The Gorkhas played
in the old fashioned
3-2-5 formation,
three defenders, two
midfielders and five
forwards. However,
Ranjit Thapa and Tika
Footballer Bhupender Rawat Ram’s versatility and
Chima Okorie greets Shyam Thapa
work rate enabled them to backpedal and bolster midfield
when under pressure as well as initiate speedy counter attacks,
with deft throughs. So though Gorkha Brigade started in a
3-5-2 formation, they frequently functioned in a 3-3-4 or 3-4-3
formation.
Short-statured Bhupinder Rawat, nicknamed ‘Scooter’ for
his blistering speed and quickness off the mark was an ideal
poacher of goals. He would hover around the goal area, drift
into vacant space, when the inside forwards fell deep and
use his speed to brcak through and score with placements or
diving headers from measured crosses by Amar Bahadur. With
his speed and instinct for goal, Rawat was like a poor man’s
Paolo Rossi. Amar Bahadur was all silky skills on the left flank.
His repertoire of dribbling skills drew gasps of admiration. He
was not an old fashioned left winger but could cut in and score
goals. Above all the five forwards gelled perfectly as a cohesive
unit. Of this famous five, four were snapped up by Mafatlal
Mills, Bombay. Amar Bahadur joined in 1967 and Bhupinder
Rawat, Ranjit and Tika Ram a year earlier. Only right winger
Rawat retired with the Gorkha Brigade. Subsequently, Tika
Ram ran a provision store in Dehra Dun, Amar Bahadur looked
after a family hotel in the outskirts of Bombay and Bhupinder
Rawat joined an administrative post with Sports Authority
of India (SAI). Only Ranjit Thapa maintained some link with
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