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MES team in FIFA 2002

It was indeed a great achievement when the 97-01’ CSE batch qualified for the world cup football 2002, representing India. The main players are Ajith Ancheri (FC Kochi hero), Bejoy Beckham, Ronaldo Faisal, Roberto Gilesh Carlos, Jiju Batistuta, Nazrana Zidane, Shiji Owens and the Dynamic goalkeeper Oliver Deepak Kahn.

During the training session in India, the team was encouraged by a visit by the union sports minister Azim Hamsa. The minister did not like all the players fighting for a single ball. So he gave each of them a football and told them to stop fighting. Then the coach Binoy P V had to explain the rules of the game to the minister.

Anyway the first match was in Seoul against Argentina. The match was keenly fought and by half time the score was 0-0. The Indian fans got restless and a few of them : Ranjit, Shehazab and Shabnam resorted to Hooliganism. They were arrested by Korea special branch DySP Saleem.

In the second half, as soon as MES Ronaldo got the ball he went straight to MES goal and hit a self goal. MES goalkeeper Kahn was furious. But our poor Ronaldo did not know that sides change after half time. He said to Beckham : “ In Kumbdi, we don’t have such funny rules”.  Meanwhile Ancheri of FC Kochi dribbled the ball all alone through the Argentinian defence and hit the ball into the net. But actually it was not the ball but his trousers which Ancheri had hit into the goalpost. His trousers’ elastic was very loose because of which it came of. Now Ancheri does not have the habit of wearing any underwear. He was overjoyed that he scored a goal and took his shirt of and started running around the ground waving it. His team mates were chasing him and the whole stadium was roaring. Infact the spectators were roaring with laughter and team mates were chasing him to stop him. Finally when they caught him referee gave him red card for streaking in the field.

The MES team was very annoyed at the referee’s decision and all got charged up, and suddenly started playing with great passion. Kahn passed the ball to Gilesh Carlos. Carlos headed it to Batistuta, Batistuta headed to Owen, Owen headed to Ronaldo and Ronaldo headed into the goalpost. A new world record!! Goal scored only though headers!!!

Next goal came through a corner. Fijoy Beckham hit the corner shot really high into the air. The ball went so high that it went out of sight. As the ball came down all the Argentinian players were jumping up and down to clear it. But MES coach P V had taught the team a new trick. Owen climbed on Ronaldo’s shoulder and Nachu Zidane got over Owen’s shoulder so they could reach the descending ball before the Argentinians. Zidane headed it into the net!!

And that was the final whistle. MES team had won the game 2-1 for India!! A great day in the history of Indian Football!! And also World Football!!!

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