Calcutta: Friends and colleagues are shocked, to say the least. Some, like Douglas da Silva, who was responsible for bringing Cristiano Junior from Brazil to the Calcutta Maidan, have more questions than answers in their minds. All talked about his great sporting skills. But all also talked about how great a human being he was. The following are some reactions:

• Subrata Bhattacharya (The Mohun Bagan caoch sounded extremely shaken up, barely able to say, with his team defeated and Junior dead, a double blow): ?Yes I have heard the news. It makes me said, very sad.

(Mohun Bagan assistant general secretary Balaram Chowdhury and manager Om Jhunjunwala visited the hospital after the match).

• Subhas Bhowmick (Junior had many a great match with the East Bengal coach, now in tears): A positive striker and a wonderful human being. Please, I will not be able to say anything more, I am not in a proper state of mind

• Bhaichung Bhutia (He played alongside Junior at East Bengal last season): The news came as a shock. It is a great loss. He was a good friend and we had some great time on the field. He was a wonderful person too. He was one of the finest foreign players I have played alongside. But often there are lapses in preparation, a not so right attitude from the authorities. Often referees are not alert during games. Moreover, the medical attention provided are rather poor. It?s time the authorities woke up.

Douglas da Silva

• Douglas da Silva (He sounded too shaken): I am not really in any condition to comment, but I also died today. My heart is broken. It?s very shocking. He was a very good friend of mine. I know everybody has to pass away one day, but in this way? I had a talk with Junior?s wife and condoled her as far as I could. I am leaving for Bangalore Monday.

• Debjit Ghosh: I remember the collision I was involved in, during the ASEAN Cup match in Jakarta. I was attempting a header and fell unconscious on the field after the collision. I woke up two hours later at the hospital and felt severe pain all over my body. It was only later, while going for the scan, that I vaguely remembered the collision. I am indebted to Dr Shanti Ranjan Dasgupta (the East Bengal team doctor) and Douglas da Silva for providing the necessary onfield treatment.

I can surely identify with Junior?s tragedy. He was a wonderful human being, besides being a good player. However, it is time the authorities should wake up.

They didn?t do so when Sanjib Dutta died. Nothing was done after I suffered the injury and now there?s Junior. Hope his death brings some sense to he administrators of the game. Then the next player may be saved.