During the 80’s there was a strange phenomenon of sports addiction in Kerala and there are many factors for that addiction that includes golden age of Kerala Football ,but it had its effect on other sports as well,actually it was the golden age of Kerala volleyball that no one can deny and in we discuss one of the factors of that.In Peravoor a small village in Kannur district one family is making road for a hero who would change the history of Indian volleyball ,when the hero is walking through the road everyone cheered him,he was so tall and in this tallness he find his talent and when he leave them the road become empty and the people leaving near the road become dull,and later no one came that road.The road I am speaking is road of future of Indian volleyball and the hero is jimmy George the legendary volleyball player.
Jimmy George A BIOGRAPHY
Kerala is a tiny state in India but her population is one of the best talented in India Kerala has produced a lot of gems in the field of sports and one of the everlasting gem is jimmy George who is a immortal in Indian volleyball history.he is considered as one of the best in volleyball history in India. He was born in 8th march 1955 in a small
village called peravoor in kannur. He was raised in a family which is known for their “bigger than life” attitude for sports. his siblings are also well knownathletes and sportspersons. he was born in a well known family called kuddakachira family. His father George Joseph is a university level player and he got his interest in volleyball from his father. From his childhood onwards jimmy George was a multi skilled person who has interest in swimming and chess playing.He was also good at studying and he joined st joseph’s high school peravoor in his Village.
BEGINNING OF A RISING STAR
. He began to play at his younger age onwards and he with his friends start playing at a court near the church.One day a new preist been appointed to the church dened permission that made him to build a court in his home’s courtyard.This is where he developed his skills,he became a local star because of His talents.Then he began to play for Calicut university in 1970while he was studying in Devagiri college,Kozhikode.in 1973 he joined pala st Thomas and represented kerala university.there everyone began to see the fortunes ofhis stars.His team won the all india inter college trophy in four years in whichhe was there. Everybody began to see the rising star which could resurrect theIndian volleyball team.at the youngest age of 16 he become part of kerala team.He had quit his medical college inorder to play for kerala police where he remained till his death.
NEXT PHASE OF LIFE
Jimmy played for India’s men team in Tehran (1974), Bangkok (1978) and in Seoul (1986) where india won bronze medal.He was the captain of Indian team in Saudi Arabia and led the Indian team to victory in India Gold Cup International Volleyball Tournament at Hyderabad in 1986.He was the youngest player at the Age of 21 to receive Arjuna award he also got G.V Raja award and Manorama Award.
He took a leave from kerala police and joined abu dhabi sports club and from there his talent got noticed in the Mediterranean lands.then he joined aItalian club coletto cluband he joined System impiani.after a season he returned to his loving homeland and rejoined kerala police.In 1987-88 he signed a contract with Eurostyle-Euroslba team at Montchiari in Brescia and it was during that period that he died in a car crash.He was the first Indian to play professional volleyball in Italy.jimmy George was a enormous phenomenon in Italy and they always place jimmy as one of the best player that have played for their club.
His legacy stand tall as he was.he bring a new spirit to the Indian volleyball which was actually dead until a soul called jimmy George made it wake it againHe was the zeitgeist the spirit of time for the Indian volleyball.
Facebook
RSS