Nearly 20 years after his lone international appearance, Bibiano Fernandes once again found himself on a football field representing India — this time in front of a roaring 23,000-strong crowd at Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The occasion was an exhibition match between India All-Stars and Brazil Legends, but for Bibiano, it was a moment of personal redemption and inspiration.
At 48, the former midfielder stunned the spectators with a cheeky chip over former Brazilian goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, levelling the score at 1-1 in the second half. Although the Brazil Legends eventually triumphed 2-1, Bibiano’s audacious goal stood out as the highlight of the evening.
“I can’t explain the feeling. It was surreal,” he was quoted as saying by Sportstar. “Playing in front of a big crowd again brought back emotions I hadn’t felt in years.”
Despite a modest playing career that saw him don the Indian jersey just once—in a 2005 defeat to Pakistan—Bibiano has become a vital figure in the development of Indian youth football. His invitation to the exhibition match came from event organiser David Anand, and he accepted without hesitation. “Playing against those legends was a dream,” he said.
Beyond the thrill of taking on Brazilian greats like Ronaldinho and Rivaldo, Bibiano cherished another personal milestone — sharing the pitch with Indian football icons IM Vijayan, Mahesh Gawli, and Deepak Mondal. “I had never played alongside Vijayan before. To finally do so was special,” he said.
Vijayan, now chairman of the AIFF’s Technical Committee, had a hand in shaping Bibiano’s current path. He was instrumental in recommending Bibiano for the India Under-20 head coach role, which he accepted in February after parting ways with Bengaluru FC’s reserve team.
“I was eager to take the job,” Bibiano admitted. “I spent eight years with the India U-17 and U-16 teams, and my work isn’t done until we qualify for a U-17 or U-20 World Cup.”
His dedication is unwavering. Just a day after the Chennai spectacle, he was back in Bengaluru, leading a training session under floodlights.
Bibiano now turns his focus to his first assignment as U-20 coach — the SAFF U-19 Championship in May, to be held in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh. His vision remains clear: “We have to start at ages 9 to 15. Only then can we build a strong U-17 team.”
From a magical goal against legends to mentoring future stars, Bibiano’s journey is far from over.
