Shyam Thapa is Mohun Bagan Ratna
Shyam Thapa, one of the best Indian forwards to have played for the country, was conferred with the Mohun Bagan Ratna, the club’s highest honour, in a glittering function held at the Club in Kolkata.
Thapa, who is hailed as one of the best attackers to have played for the side by the Mohun Bagan fans, received the honour at the Club’s foundation day ceremony which is celebrated on the day the club won the historic IFA Shield in 1911.
Thapa, who switched to Mohun Bagan from East Bengal in 1977 after signing a record contract deal, soon became a star in the green-and-maroon jersey. His claim to fame was the famous bicycle kick that he scored against traditional rival East Bengal in August 1978.
He was with Mohun Bagan for seven consecutive years and helped the side win a host of national and local titles. Thapa is also remembered for scoring a goal against the New York Cosmos, spearheaded by the king of football Pele, in an exhibition match in 1977 at the Eden Gardens. Mohun Bagan drew the match 2-2.
“I am extremely thankful to the Mohun Bagan supporters and officials for conferring me the highest honour of the club. I spent seven memorable years with the club and had the fortune of being a part of an extremely talented team that won many trophies and titles across the country,” Thapa said while accepting the medallion and a cash reward from the club secretary Debasish Dutta.
The other awardees:
Best Footballer (2021-22) — Liston Colaco; Best Forward (2021-22) — Kiyan Nassiri; Best Sports Official — V.C. Praveen (Gokulam Kerala FC); Best Cricketer — Prinann Dutta; Best athlete — Lifetime Achievement — Balai Dey.