How Edmund, hattrick hero of Derby, beat serious spine injury to glory

The name of Edmund Lalrindika may not immediately ring a bell with those not really well-versed in Indian football. For starters, the 27-year-old Mizoram forward has now become the toast of the fraternity after starring in a sensational hat-trick for East Bengal in the derby final of the Durand Cup on Sunday night — but a deeper dive into the history of arguably the country's biggest marquee match points to something more significant.

It’s been 105 years since the first Mohun Bagan-East Bengal clash in the 1921 Cooch Behar Cup, and there have been only four documented hat-tricks in the high pressure matches so far. Edmund was the latest member of the club at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium, ushering in memories of ‘Sikkimese Sniper’ Baichung Bhutia being on fire in the 1997 Federation Cup semi-final at the same venue, as East Bengal blew away their traditional rivals 4-1 before a 135,000-strong crowd.

The other two instances saw Nigerian Edeh Chidi lead Mohun Bagan to a thrilling 5-3 victory in the 2009 I-League in Kolkata and a young Kiyan Nasiri help Mohun Bagan to rally to a 3-1 win at an Indian Super League (ISL) match at Fatorda in 2022.

‘’I hope it’s just the beginning,’’ said Edmund with a shy smile as cameras and mobile phones zoomed in on him at the post-match press conference. It’s not every day that a team goes up 4-1 before half-time at the Kolkata derby but then, it was an extraordinary evening for the red-and-gold brigade who seem to be in resurgent mode this year, having ended their jinx with the first-ever ISL title few months back.

The similarity between Edmund’s opportunistic strikes and the ones by Bhutia nearly three decades back — which made old-timers at the ground nostalgic — was somewhat uncanny. In recent years, one has got used to overseas professionals stealing the thunder in the big games in the ISL, and this is where the saga of the resilient boy from the hills — whose career was threatened by a serious spine injury back in 2020 in another derby — makes for such a fascinating story.

It was in the first year of Covid that Edmund, then with East Bengal on loan from Bengaluru FC, suffered the career-threatening injury. It was a severe setback for the youngster who eventually had to bite the bullet with high-risk surgery in 2022, following which doctors advised him to stick to non-contact sport for the rest of his life. Edmund, of course, had other ideas as he returned to professional football after a rigorous 18-month rehab and was drafted in by then newcomers Inter Kashi.

After a two-year stint with them, East Bengal once again opened their doors for the nifty forward and Edmund vindicated their faith soon enough, and how! Antonio Lopez Habas, the Spanish tactician who had the last laugh in the final after losing their group league clash to Mohun Bagan on the opening day of the tournament, was effusive about the man of the moment. ‘’I have known him (Edmund) since Inter Kashi days and had full faith in his capabilities. He was a False Nine for us today and did a great job,’’ said the veteran, whose enviable record in the dugout on derby days stays unaffected.

Meanwhile, the enormity of his achievement was just sinking in for Edmund. ‘’It’s a pleasure to know that I have touched Baichung bhai’s feat but I am happier that the team has won in a such a way,’’ said Edmund, a big Neymar fan.

Asked whether he fancies his chances of being picked for the Indian team to play Brazil in the 3 October friendly in Kolkata, he was quite matter of fact: ‘’Yes, it will be anyone’s dream but then the selection is not in my hands. It will be a matter of pride if I get a chance.’’

Individual awards

Golden Glove: VIshal Kaith (Mohun Bagan SG)

Golden Boot: Alaaeddine Ajaraie (NorthEast United FC)

Golden Ball: Edmund Lalrindika (East Bengal FC)