#5 CV Pappachan
Pappachan is another old-time Malayali favourite.
The ferocious striker, who made a habit of making daring individual runs into opposition boxes, would have been a big addition to any ISL team.
Born in the Trichur district of Kerala, Pappachan was a natural leader of men. He was recruited into the Kerala Police team in 1982 and played there for seven years. He captained the Kerala Police team and also helped Kerala win the Santosh Trophy titles in 1992 and 1993.
Famed for his strong physique, his most memorable moment came when he scored India’s only goal against Hungary in the 1991 Nehru Cup.
Ever the perfectionist, he had a keen sense of the game’s flow and was gifted with an uncanny ability to predict his opponent’s next move. Both these attributes would have been greatly appreciated by any ISL team worth their salt.
FUN FACT: After retiring from the sport, he took a totally different route and specialised in performing ‘Panchari Melam,’ which is music made on a percussion instrument. His penchant for creating art, both on the football field and off it, lives on.
