Joe Antic was the best in the country: Walia

MUMBAI: Joe Antic, who passed away few days ago, was always considered an astute centre half who was well ahead of the game. Antic was member of the Indian hockey team that lost the gold medal streak for the first time in 1960 Rome Olympics. Pakistan beat India in the final.
But Antic was a legend for not only India but also for Western Railway who were considered one of the best teams in the country in the 60s.
Among his western Railway colleagues was Satinder Singh Walia, a goalkeeper who joined the team in 1967. For Walia, who later became an international umpire of very high standards, Joe Antic was one of the better centre halves that India has had. “Everybody talks of Ajit Pal Singh. For my money, Joe was equally good or even better in many aspects. Only thing was that people did not cover him like they did for Ajit Pal Singh,” says Walia.
“People wrote a lot more about Ajit Pal Singh but Joe was not written about so much in those days,” said Walia
“I was very young in 1967 when I joined the Western Railway. He would guide me well. I played with him for a few years and we were one of the best teams in the country,” said Walia.
Puran Singh, who joined the Western Railway in 1968, said he saw one of the best victories by his side. “We beat Punjab Police which was also a top side 4-0 then we went on to beat Mohun Bagan 2-1 to win the Aga Khan,” said Puran.
“Anybody who has played in the Olympics has to be a special player. For me, Antic was a very special player too,” said Puran.
MM Somaya, three time Olympian, said he was very young when he saw Antic play. “He had astute game sense, he could read the game well, had good anticipation and spoiled the opposition moves due to that ability.
“Personally, he was very reserved and spoke very little but had an amazing dry wit. When he said something, it would be hilarious,” said Somaya.