SN college goal post guarded by Baby Prakkulam; Memories of 1971-72 season

KOLLAM: Height, speed, and agility. CPM general secretary M A Baby boasted of all these attributes during his halcyon years in sports in 1971-72. Comrade Baby was the goalkeeper in the matches at S.N. College during his undergraduate studies. M.A. Baby was also the goalkeeper in the team that faced state team member Najumuddin.

Kollam Prakkulam Kunnath P.M. Alexander and Lily's youngest son, Baby Prakkulam, had his initial zeal for sports when he joined NSS High School. It was his baby steps to become a prominent player of the sport in later years.

Baby became notable as a sportsman when he joined SN College for his undergraduate degree. Along with football, he also excelled in badminton. Baby also won the Kerala University badminton competition once. He became active in politics when he joined the B.A. Politics. In 1974, when he became a member of the SFI Central Committee, Baby had to bid adieu to the sport he loved. CPM General Secretary M.A. Baby returned to the field with goalkeeper gloves yesterday in an exhibition match held in connection with the birth centenary celebrations of Fidel Castro.

A fierce football match in Peruman. The opposing team leading by one goal. The ball came heading towards the post guarded by Baby. It was more or less sure that the ball would end up inside the net, if not for the handball from team member S.V. Sudheer (now Sree Narayana Guru Open University Pro. VC). A penalty was awarded.

In 2006, when Baby came to Peruman to seek votes while contesting for the Legislative Assembly from Kundara, many locals reminisced about the game and the penalty kick.

"Football remains a craze for me. I, along with Betty(wife), still watch matches on television and sometimes even go straight to the stadium.” Said M A Baby.