It was a trip down memory lane for some of the past masters of State football. As the country celebrated its 60th year of Independence, the former stars got together to mark the occasion at the Bangalore Football stadium, parading their craft and renewing old ties.

Their reflexes might have slowed down, but not their enthusiasm and love for the game as they showed by playing an exhibition match, a customary tie played every year on August 15. For a change, the scoreline was of academic interest as the likes of Ulaganathan, Sundareshan, Mastan Ahmed, Muralidharan, to name a few, evoked a sense of nostalgia on the field. Watching the action from the sidelines were a host former internationals like Krishnaji Rao, Amjad Khan and Arumainayagam.

“This get together gives all of us an opportunity to remember our good old days, and we try to re-create our deeds on the field,” said Arumainayagam, who was part of the Indian team that won the Asian Games gold medal in 1962.

It was a sentiment echoed by Sundaresan, the custodian when ITI clinched the inaugural Federation Cup in 1977. “It might be a veterans’ exhibition match, but even youngsters can learn a lot by watching them. It’s that undying passion for the game that bring us here every year on the same day.”