This is the story of a man who loves
soccer and literature more than anything in life. The world body of
football, the Federation International de Football Associations [FIFA]
recognized this soccer writer by giving direct accreditations to World
Cup championships. He is Sri. Bhasi Malaparamba, founder member of
Giants International Group of Kozhikode, the first group founded in
Kerala in 1982.He adorned the post of Vice President of Giants
Federation 4 A for two terms under Sri. M. S. Ramachandran and
then occupied the coveted post of the Federation President in 2002.
The story begins in the later half of nineteen fifties when Mr.Bhasi [Bhaskaran being the full name] started playing football in the village paddy fields in Malaparamba, his birth place in Calicut Corporation, and later in the famous Mananchira Grounds where his seniors included Sri. T.A. Rahaman, later 1956 Olympian footballer, and Sri.A.Vasu, later a naxal activist known as Gro Vasu.
Bhasi started fiction writing when he was a student, under pen name ‘Bhasi Malaparamba’ adding his birth place to his name. His first novel ‘PANAPATHRATHINTE KAMUKI’ appeared in print in 1958, when he was only Pre-University[12th std.] student, was a best seller with five reprints appearing within three years . His name was well known in literary circles in Kerala through his novels titled ‘NEELATHADAKAM’, ‘AMBILICHOLA’ and ‘THURANKAM’ published in Malayala Manorama weekly.
As footballer, he was captain of the Kozhikode District team continuously for four years and played for Young Challengers Club for ten years winning District League four times in succession. After hanging his boots, he was in organizational rolls as Office bearer of District F.A. and State F.A. In 1992 he was elected as Vice President of District Sports Council, the highest post directly under District Collector, defeating the then City Mayor in the election. He also appeared in a Malayalam movie film with great ever green hero Prem Nazir titled FOOTBALL CHAMPION, produced by Jai Maruti Pictures, released in 1972.
He studied Diploma in Journalism and started writing on soccer from 1974 onwards. He was the only soccer writer from Kerala to cover the Mohun Bagan- New York Cosmos match at Eden Gardens at Calcutta when great Pele appeared for Cosmos on 23 September 1977. Later he was accredited for World Cup football in 1982 at Spain and covered it for Malayala Manorama daily. So far he has covered seven football world cups, Spain 1982,Mexico 1986, Italy 1990, France 1998, Korea-Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010 as freelance soccer journalist, directly accredited by FIFA, and covered these for Malayala Manorama , the largest circulated language daily in India with 1.95 million copies published from 15 units including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Dubai and Bahrein. During the world cups he interviewed many football legends like Pele, Socratese, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton etc. In 2008 he also covered EURO 2008 European football championship in Austria/ Switzerland for Malayala Manorama. In 2010 he was again accredited by FIFA for the FIFA World Cup 2010 S.AFRICA .This was his seventh coverage of Worlds Top Media Event and an Indian Record. In South Africa he again continued his usual work of coverage of the event and also interviewed many world soccer personalities and world cup winners. This includes interview of George Weah, Liberia who was winner of Ballon de Order [European Footballer ] award , Babeto [ World cup winner 1994 for Brazil], Berghomi, World Cup winner of Italy, Patric Kluivert of Holland, Chezare Maldini, Italy and many other world players.
His achievements also include:
He has received awards which include
The story begins in the later half of nineteen fifties when Mr.Bhasi [Bhaskaran being the full name] started playing football in the village paddy fields in Malaparamba, his birth place in Calicut Corporation, and later in the famous Mananchira Grounds where his seniors included Sri. T.A. Rahaman, later 1956 Olympian footballer, and Sri.A.Vasu, later a naxal activist known as Gro Vasu.
Bhasi started fiction writing when he was a student, under pen name ‘Bhasi Malaparamba’ adding his birth place to his name. His first novel ‘PANAPATHRATHINTE KAMUKI’ appeared in print in 1958, when he was only Pre-University[12th std.] student, was a best seller with five reprints appearing within three years . His name was well known in literary circles in Kerala through his novels titled ‘NEELATHADAKAM’, ‘AMBILICHOLA’ and ‘THURANKAM’ published in Malayala Manorama weekly.
As footballer, he was captain of the Kozhikode District team continuously for four years and played for Young Challengers Club for ten years winning District League four times in succession. After hanging his boots, he was in organizational rolls as Office bearer of District F.A. and State F.A. In 1992 he was elected as Vice President of District Sports Council, the highest post directly under District Collector, defeating the then City Mayor in the election. He also appeared in a Malayalam movie film with great ever green hero Prem Nazir titled FOOTBALL CHAMPION, produced by Jai Maruti Pictures, released in 1972.
He studied Diploma in Journalism and started writing on soccer from 1974 onwards. He was the only soccer writer from Kerala to cover the Mohun Bagan- New York Cosmos match at Eden Gardens at Calcutta when great Pele appeared for Cosmos on 23 September 1977. Later he was accredited for World Cup football in 1982 at Spain and covered it for Malayala Manorama daily. So far he has covered seven football world cups, Spain 1982,Mexico 1986, Italy 1990, France 1998, Korea-Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010 as freelance soccer journalist, directly accredited by FIFA, and covered these for Malayala Manorama , the largest circulated language daily in India with 1.95 million copies published from 15 units including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Dubai and Bahrein. During the world cups he interviewed many football legends like Pele, Socratese, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton etc. In 2008 he also covered EURO 2008 European football championship in Austria/ Switzerland for Malayala Manorama. In 2010 he was again accredited by FIFA for the FIFA World Cup 2010 S.AFRICA .This was his seventh coverage of Worlds Top Media Event and an Indian Record. In South Africa he again continued his usual work of coverage of the event and also interviewed many world soccer personalities and world cup winners. This includes interview of George Weah, Liberia who was winner of Ballon de Order [European Footballer ] award , Babeto [ World cup winner 1994 for Brazil], Berghomi, World Cup winner of Italy, Patric Kluivert of Holland, Chezare Maldini, Italy and many other world players.
His achievements also include:
- Recipient of Gold Medal from Govt. of Kerala, for Speedy Construction of Rajaji Road Calicut during Nehru Cup International Football Tournament in 19
- Published three serial novels in Malayala Manorama weekly during the period from 1962 to 1971titled NEELATHADAKAM, ABMILI CHOLA, and THURANKAM
- Published two children’s stories MURALI, PUTHIYA KSHETRANAL through Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society, Kottayam
- Published nine novels titled NEELATHADAKAM, AMBILI CHOLA, MANASSUKAL SAGARANGAL, VRINDA, PANAPATRATINTE KAMUKI, PANAPATRATIL KURE KANNUNEER, YAMUNA, VEZAMBALINTE VAZIKAL,SUSHAMAYUDE OLYMPIC PARVAM through famous publishers like National Book Stall, Kottayam, Malayala Manorama, Kottayam, H&C Stores, Kunnamkulam, B.K.M.Book Depot, Champakulam, Poorna Publications, Calicut
- Published three Sports Books, LOKA FOOTBALL, LOKA KAPPU FOOTBALL ORU CHARITHRAVALOKANM, GOLDEN GOAL through D C Books, Current Book
- Commentary for All India Radio, Asianet T.V.and Kairali T.V.done on several football championships including Nehru Cup 1991 at TVM and the Sao Polo –India match at Kochi 2005, several times
- His service organization is GIANTS INTERNATIONAL, which he joined as a CHARTER Member of GIANTS GROUP OF CALICUT , the first Giants Group in Kerala state, which was installed on 17 March 1983. He became its President in two terms and later was nominated by GIANTS INTERNATIONAL as President of GIANTS INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION 4 A with jurisdiction in Tamilnadu and Kerala. Presently he serves GIANTS INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION 4 as its Advisor.
He has received awards which include
- Best Foreign Journalist award from Global Association of Culture & Peace, Seoul, KOREA in 2002 during FIFA WORLD CUP KOREA- JAPAN 2002
- Best Reporter Award of FIFA WORLD CUP 2002 among Malayalam Journalists from Football Lovers Association, Trivandrum [ FLAT ] in 2002
- Award from Association of Engineers,Kerala for contribution for football in 2005
- Award from SAI MAA Foundation & Humanity in Unity in recognition for outstanding contribution towards promoting sports in 2007