KOCHI: As the football world mourns the demise of Salvatore Schillaci , Shabab Cholayil , a security guard at Kerala Kalamandalam in Cheruthuruthi , Thrissur, was shocked when TOI informed him about the death of the 1990 World Cup top-scorer, whom he had met in a chance encounter two years back. Schillaci (59) died at a hospital in Palermo, Italy, where he was getting treated for colon cancer on Wednesday morning. Schillaci came to India in 2022 as part of a touring group of seven celebrities for an Italian TV show.
During their India tour, they visited Kalamandalam to learn about 'Navarasas'. The producers of the TV show had asked the participants to learn about the 'nine emotions' and they had to perform it before the judges. An ardent football fan, Shabab, was the only one present there to identify Schillaci, who was popularly known as 'Toto' in his playing days.
"The group of tourists arrived early in the morning and was here for only about four hours. I had a lingering doubt in my mind that one among the group was Schillaci. When the group was about to leave, I mustered courage and went up to him and asked 'Toto?' Surprised, he smiled and nodded in the affirmative.
I felt that he was happy that someone recognised him here. The 2022 Fifa World Cup was also happening at that time. Since I was watching a lot of football, it helped me in recognising him," recalled Shabab, who has been working as a security guard in Kalamandalam since 2021.
"The show they were appearing on ha.