Vijayan gets his due 17 years after retirement from Indian football, appointed as observer

New Delhi, Aug 29: Indian football legend IM Vijayan has finally got his due. The 'Black Pearl’ of Indian football had the only honour of receiving an Arjuna award in his 17 years of career.

Union Sports Ministry has honoured Vijayan by appointing him as the observer and assessor of the Indian football, from the under-17 level to the senior level. It is the first time when Vijayan has been associated directly with Indian football.

Looking forward to the forthcoming Olympics in Tokyo 2020, 2024 and in 2028, the Sports Ministry has set up an observer and assessor committee with 12 distinguished former sports personalities.

The former stars like Somdeb Burman (Tennis), PT Usha and Anju Bobby George (Athletics), Mary Kom, Akhil Kumar (Boxing), Aparna Popat (Badminton) have been appointed to the same post along with Vijayan.

In its aftermath, the former Indian skipper has already started his job by filing a report on Indian football team’s last match against St. Kitts.

The gifted striker speaking over the phone from Mumbai told MyKhel, “I had to watch senior national team’s match against St. Kitts and file a report to the Union Sports Ministry. As instructed by Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India (SAI) bosses, I will have to mention each individual footballer’s performance, suggestions on their future prospects as well. I will also have to mention in my report whether the coach is moving in the right direction in terms of youth development programme.”

Vijayan has been instructed by the Sports Ministry to travel to Macau to watch senior national team’s all-important Asian Cup qualifier in September.

"After submitting the report on senior national team’s show in the Asian Cup qualifier, I will be with the under-17 Indian team till the under-17 FIFA World Cup," he signed off saying.