Commentator Vijayan creating magic off the field

In an all-important clash at the Mumbai Football Arena (Mumbai) in February, centre-back Goian got on the end of an exquisite Rafael Crivellaro delivery. The Romanian’s strike not only helped CFC book its ticket to the play-offs but also punctured his former employer’s hopes of making it to the top-four in ISL 6.

While there is no denying the fact that Goian was the man of the moment, the cherry on top of the cake was placed by Raman Vijayan, who delivered a lung-busting commentary that still echoes in the minds of CFC supporters.

Despite no longer holding on to the ball at his feet, former India striker Vijayan continues to create magic – now with a microphone in front of him. “I try to make sure people feel and enjoy important moments in the game. As we do it in Tamil (on Star Sports), I feel it reaches a wider audience, including elderly people in the state,” Vijayan, who made his commentary debut in 2017, told DT Next.

“I always like to explore new avenues. Doing commentary has been a challenging experience but an enjoyable one. I keep myself updated with teams’ results and players’ performances. I like to touch upon new topics. I try and narrate stories which the general public wouldn’t be aware of. It could be about a player, coach, stadium etc,” he added. The 46-year-old served as an assistant to former Delhi Dynamos FC (now Odisha FC) managers Roberto Carlos and Gianluca Zambrotta in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Vijayan said his involvement and experience with an ISL club came in handy when he made the switch from the dugout to the commentary box.

“The transition was a smooth one as I was a part of the Delhi support staff for two years. Having worked as a coach in the league and picked players, I know what happens in the dressing room and within the club. I also have a lot of experience playing the game. That is another advantage for me I feel,” he stated.

During our interaction, Vijayan also expressed his adulation for veteran English commentator John Helm, who has been a regular in ISL. John has called the shots for a number of World Cups over the years and conducts sessions for other commentators, including regional ones, before the start of every season.

“I get fascinated whenever I look at him. Around 2005, he came to India to work with Zee Sports for the Santosh Trophy. At that time, I represented Bengal. When I met him for the first time in the studio (after a decade), he told that he remembers me. If you want a statistic about any player in the world, he is the man to approach. He knows anything and everything (related to football),” Vijayan couldn’t hide his admiration for John.

“He usually gives us a lot of tips on how a commentator should go about his job. All his inputs have been useful. He does commentary with utmost passion and involves himself 100% all the time. He would jot down points which would be of interest to the audience. Whenever they are relevant, he will bring it out.” Vijayan may not boast a CV close to John’s in commentary, but his words will always be music to the ears of Chennaiyin fans.