THOMAS CARLOVICH TRINCHE

THE GENIOUS MIDFIELDER FROM ARGENTINA

SARASIJ MAJUMDER

The year 1993—Diego Maradona joined “Naples Old Boys’ Club”. In the Airport, a journalist asked,“ Then the best footballer of the world is returning back to Argentina?’

Without battering an eyelid, Diego replied—“ The best Footballer of the world never left ROSARIO of Argentina.”

His name was—“TRINCHE CARLOVICH.”

In the year 1974, before world cup, the National Team of Argentina came to ROSERIO, to play a preparatory  game. Against a LOCAL TEAM. The national team was having star studded players like “PASSARELLA, Mario Kempes…” and others . During half time, they were trailing by 3 goals to nil—and all the players of national team demanded that a LOCAL PLAER, playing as MIDFIELDER, shall be ordered to SIT OUT! He was toying with the great names of National Eleven such that the National team looked highly UNBALANCED. The MID FIELDER was none other than TRINCHE.

The name of this Football GENIUS was –THOMUS CARLOVICH—alias L. Trinche.

Hosse Pockerman, Carlos Bilardo, Ceaser Menotti, Marsello Biellellsa---all Argentine Coaches on National Football team agreed in unison that Trinche was the all-time best Argentine Footballer. Best footballer of England couldn’t play for England team. His name was George Best. Best footballer of Argentina didn’t play for Argentina also. But the difference is—Trinche was best of the bests of the world.

But why he couldn’t play for National team? When a coach like Menotti was thinking of including him, why he was not there??

It is said that, when Menotti phoned him to come for practice as a part of National team, he was angling at other corner of Argentina. He merely said—“ I am now angling. Can’t report”

Once again, the conflict between PRIDE of a GENIUS —and Power of a National Coach Cum Administrator killed a golden chance to  display by a footballer, his brilliance to the world of Football lovers.

This person, born in a refugee  family from Northern Croatia, played football throughout his life, in 3rd. and 4th. Division Club. Even when he was offered a huze some of money by the rich clubs to play for them—he refused. A journalist asked him for this refusal—the answer was spell bounding. Trinche said --- “ I wanted to play only  football, in the best possible way—didn’t want anything out of it” When just an above average player is joining large clubs, minting money—a Football ZEN is playing mesmerizing football in the grounds of Local club—and Bielsa, Peckerman come to see his gams! Trinche wanted to play only unadulterated Football! He loved this game purely—without any expectation.

Here I will quote some comments by a few great Player, Journalist, and Writer about Trinche.

Famous writer on game of football, Mr. Allesandro Caraverio---“. Carlovich is embodiment of Argentinian Football. He broke, and dribble past the standard rules of Football play.”

Journalist Gilem Ballag(ref. Book on Messi)---“….Carlovich is anti-thesis of Messi. From the same Locality, two left footers are as different as may be. One is considered is a GOD OF FOOTBALL--- other one is totally unknown….’

Valdani, ---“. Trinche don’t play Football. Write poetry with Football on the field. And that poetry defies physics of Football.”

Really—life of Carlovich is like a Poetry in Tragedy. When,  was returning home by riding a Bi-Cycle, a young snatcher snatched his cycle, pushed him on the road, and ran away. The old man of 74 years, suffered a BRAIN INJURY, and went to COMA.

Like the revolutionary football game  that “BHOGA VANITA” plays, after a similar football match, played with life, Carlovich left the world for good, on 8th May, 2020.

Argentina is a unique country! Poverty, Crime, and wizardry in Football--- all grow together here, in the GHETTOs, like three brothers of one same MOTHER. Jewel Footballers can be picked from the dust of the streets of Argentina. Every year, some Great Footballers, and Football coach emerges from this DUST. … All are Fairies of World Football…and write poetry with the ball, by their foot on the field.

The most popular, and best football WIZARD of Argentina left silently, leaving behind a bunch of unbelievable stories, a memoir of a Football Revolutionary, and signature of a GENIUS, who defied the Power, and Authority of Coach, and Administrator.

Amen!

References:--

Sports magazines, Newspapers