Tamil Nadu may have stumbled at the final hurdle in the 66th Santosh Trophy, but two players from the state did go on to win the title in the national football championship.

Antony Ramesh, 27, and M. Thyagarajan, 25, were members of the Services team that defeated Tamil Nadu 3-2 in the final at Cuttack. Ramesh is from Nagercoil and Thyagarajan is a native of Manali, Chennai.

Thyagarajan can’t believe that he has won the Santosh Trophy. “I never thought my dream would become a reality in my maiden Santosh Trophy itself. Words can’t describe how happy I’m. This is a great achievement,” he added.

Football was an integral part of Thyagarajan in his childhood. His career gained momentum after he joined Soccer Club — a beacon of hope to many youngsters in Chennai — at Pulianthope.

Under the guidance of J. Elangovan at Soccer, Thyagarajan flourished. Just as he was getting ready to make his debut in the Chennai Football Association senior division league, destiny took him to Bengaluru. Heeding the advice of Elangovan, Thyagarajan joined Army Service Corps (ASC) in the capital of Karnataka.

Thyagarajan was used as a sub in all the matches of Services except the final. “I was disappointed to miss out on the final. I was hoping for some playing time towards the end of the match. Winning the trophy, however, washed away my bitterness,” he said.

Playing as a left-winger, the super sub grabbed the chances that came his way. He slammed two goals against Chhattisgarh in the quarterfinal league.

Services had won the Santosh Trophy only once before — in 1961-62. According to Thyagarajan, the 50-year drought only strengthened the resolve of his team.

Ramesh is equally thrilled as his younger Services colleague. “When I was a boy, my dream was to play in the Santosh Trophy.

Now I have won it. I will never forget the winning moment in my life. I know the value of the trophy because it has eluded some of the legendary players of Services,” said the right-back.

Like Thyagarajan, Ramesh also played all the matches as a substitute barring the final.
The association of Ramesh with the Army goes a long way.

He joined the Army sports hostel at Bengaluru in 2000. He later sealed a place in the ASC team. The Odisha edition was his second Santosh Trophy.

The performance of Ramesh and Thyagarajan in Army’s triumph in the inter-Services tournament earlier this year earned them a place in the Santosh Trophy squad, which was selected from the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Ramesh admitted that his team never thought they would win the trophy this time. “But our confidence soared as the tournament progressed.

Unity was the bedrock of our success,” he said. The defender wanted to achieve something worthwhile before his marriage and he can now start the search for his life partner in earnest.

Both Thyagarajan and Ramesh felt a tinge of sadness at an hour of glory because it was their home state that was at the receiving end in the final. “I was excited with our victory. At the same time, I felt bad for Tamil Nadu. I know almost all the players of Tamil Nadu. Ramesh and Santha Kumar are my good friends. I had played under Tamil Nadu coach Syed Sabir Pasha and manager I.K. Unni. Had not Services entered the final, I would have supported Tamil Nadu wholeheartedly,” Thyagarajan said.

Ramesh said he was full of sympathy for Tamil Nadu. “The Tamil Nadu squad had a number of players from my district, Kanyakumari.

The final was a bittersweet experience for me. I knew a maiden Santosh Trophy would have given Tamil Nadu football a great boost. I feel reaching the final itself is a great achievement for Tamil Nadu. I will always be a well-wisher of my state wherever I’m,” he added.

The Kerala players in the triumphant Services squad have been showered with prizes and encomiums in the state. Thyagarajan and Ramesh will be overwhelmed with joy if the Tamil Nadu government acknowledges their achievement.