Chuni Goswami will forever remain golden boy of Indian football: Franco Fortunato

World-class footballer and first-class cricketer Chuni Goswami was more than many things to his former teammate Franco Fortunato, who says the synonym of versatility will forever remain the "golden boy" of Indian football.

Fortunato was a part of the 1962 Asian Games gold medal winning Indian squad that was led admirably by Goswami.

He adorned his former captain, who died on Thursday aged 82, with superlatives of all manner in a column for the All India Football Federation.

In it, he recalled how Goswami saved his equally illustrious teammate PK Banerjee from revered coach Syed Abdul Rahim's wrath during the 1962 Asian Games.

"Rahim-saab was upset with PK, who was not his usual self during the first-half of a match. PK seemed unwell, so much so that he vomited in the dressing room at half-time. Rahim-saab was extremely disturbed."
"Rahim-saab looked at Chuni, and turned away. Such was Chuni's personality he was always undaunted, yet so mature and calm."
"Chuni Goswami was the Golden Boy, and he will remain the Golden Boy of Indian Football forever. Period."