V P Sathyan: Sudden Death!

By John Cheeran
The last line of defence in his life crumbled for former Indian football team captain and ace defender V P Sathyan on Tuesday morning.
Sathyan committed suicide by jumping before a running train at suburban Pallavaram, Chennai. Suicide notes were recovered from Sathyan's shirt pocket, Railway police sources said.
Sathyan was 41 and is survived by his wife and a 10-year old daughter.
In his letter to his wife Anita, Sathyan said he was taking the extreme step as he had drained his wealth in drinking and gambling. "I have lost my wealth and also the wedding ring. I do not want to even phone you because I might change my mind about ending my life," he wrote. Three other letters -- addressed to All India Football Federation President Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, D V Sundar, Sports Secretary of Indian Bank where he was employed as an assistant manager, and the media -- were also found with Sathyan, sources said.
His body will be taken to his native place Kannur in Kerala tonight after a post-mortem. Sathyan started his football career with the Kerala Police.
Sathyan was also a member of the five-member selection committee, constituted by the All India Football Federation, for the senior national team.
Sathyan played around 80 matches for India since 1985, including those at the Asian Games, SAF Games, Nehru Cup and 10 of them as captain, Sathyan, aged 41 was aiming to make a mark as a coach.
C.V. Papachen, a former footballer who represented India along with Sathyan, said: "I am shocked that he took away his life. We played for the Kerala Police, Kerala state and India on numerous occasions. We met last year when he came to Kochi for the Santosh Trophy. We used to talk over telephone." Papachen and Sathyan began their football career together in 1982 when they joined the Kerala Police.
"I am what I am today because of him. He groomed me very well and never ever treated me like a junior player,' said former Indian football captain I.M.Vijayan. "He used to be serious and reserved,' he added. Sathyan, who began his career with the Kerala Police and took a break to play for Mohun Bagan in the late 80s, was an outstanding defender.
After resigning from the post of deputy superintendent of police with the Kerala Police, he joined Indian Bank at Chennai and played for them. Later, he became the coach of the bank team and was settled in Chennai.
Sathyan led the Indian team in the 1986 Merdeka tournament. He was also member of the team that took part in the Seoul Asian Games in 1986 and South Asian Federation Games in 1989. He played atthe senior level for 12 years.
While playing for Mohun Bagan club he was awarded AIFF Player of the Year award in 1995.
In an interview in 2002, Sathyan had said he regretted rejecting offers to play from Qatar and the Czech Republic, which he got in the early 1990s.