During a poignant conversation in Kannur, northern Kerala, some twelve years ago, the venerable 66-year-old Manuel Frederick shared a detail that lingered. ‘I don’t visit often; travel is quite expensive, you see,’ he remarked about his hometown, revealing a glimpse into the quiet struggles of a national hero.
At that time, a bus ticket from Bengaluru was around ₹400. Despite having been Kerala’s sole Olympic medalist — the stalwart goalkeeper of the Indian hockey team that clinched bronze at the 1972 Munich Olympics — life presented its own set of challenges.
Frederick recently passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru at the age of 78. His journey was far from easy, yet during that interview at the St. Michael’s Anglo Indian School ground, where he generously coached local talent, he preferred not to dwell on his difficulties. He did, however, express disappointment about being overlooked for the Dhyan Chand Award multiple times, a recognition that came with a much-needed ₹5 lakh (he finally received it in 2019, after his ninth attempt).
The former Indian goalkeeper, who guarded the national net for a decade, spoke with joy about the pinnacle of his career. ‘Even though we secured bronze, we truly had the potential for gold,’ he recalled. ‘That team was incredible, featuring legends like Ashok Kumar, Ajit Pal Singh, Harcharan Singh, M.P. Ganesh, and Kulwant Singh. We had convincingly defeated Great Britain 5-0 and Australia 3-1.’
He also vividly recounted the harrowing Munich massacre. ‘The tragedy unfolded merely 60 yards from our living quarters,’ he shared. ‘Our semifinal match against Pakistan was subsequently delayed by a day. The sound of gunfire remains etched in my memory.’
Frederick’s exceptional performance, particularly during a Test match against arch-rival Pakistan, earned him high praise from none other than then-President Zia-ul-Haq.