News

Mercurial midfielder of India who represented Indian team in 1970 Asian Games when India won bronze

Just few days after the death of great Indian footballer PK Banerjee another great Indian footballer, Abdul Latif, passed away in Guwahati on Monday. He was 73 and is survived by two daughters and a son.

Latif played for India and was part of the Indian contingent which represented India in 1970 Asian Games. Indian football team won bronze in 1970 Asian Games. He also played for two all-time great clubs of Kolkata, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan sporting. He played for State Bank of Hyderabad and HAL of Bengaluru.

Abdul Latif who settled in Guwahati after his playing career coachedthe Assam team. Under his coaching Assam team won the junior and the sub-junior national titles.

Former India captain Victor Amalraj said that Latif was his coach with Mohammedan Sporting in 1978 and was a brilliant schemer of strategies.

Former internationals Shabbir Ali, Mohd Habib, Amalraj, Aleem Khan, G. Palguna (now Telangana Football Association Secretary) were among those who expressed condolences.

Former Indian captain and great footballer Pradeep Kumar Banerjee passes away in Kolkata at the age of 83.

Great Indian footballer Pradip Kumar Banerjee, known as P K Dada, passed away at the age of 83 in Kolkata hospital. P K is survived by two daughters Paula and Purna. He was elder brother of another former player and now a member parliament of Trinamool Congress, Prasun Banerjee.

He was one of the best strikers that Indian football has seen and captained Indian team during the golden era of Indian football. He was suffering from respiratory problems due to pneumonia and was on life support system since March 12. According to family members he passed away at 12.40 pm today on 20^th March 2020.

I will always remember late Shri PK Banerjee da with whom I worked closely for two years during my stint with AIFF.

A great human being, I have a very fond memory of him and I still remember his call from Pakistan during a friendly series in 2005 where he had some issues. 1/2

— Shaji Prabhakaran (@Shaji4Football) March 20, 2020

P K Banerjee in his 84 appearances scored 65 international goals for the Indian team. Born on 23 June in 1936 on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri in West Bengal. India team won the gold medal at the Jakarta Asian games in 1992. Banerjee led Indian side in the 1960 Rome Olympics and scored equaliser against strong French team in a 1-1 draw.

A Moynaguri born PK da becoming #IndianFootball legend. A versatile personality, media savvy, single handedly kept Indian football alive during 80s and 90s with his active all round work, which no one should forget. He will always stay in my memory. May his soul rest in peace.

— Shaji Prabhakaran (@Shaji4Football) March 20, 2020

P K also represented India in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and played a key role in their 4-2 win over Australia in the quarterfinals. Banerjee’s contribution to Indian football was duly recognised by the world governing body FIFA that awarded him the Centennial Order of Merit in 2004. With his death India has lost one of the great Indian footballer of his time.

32-year-old former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel left the Turkish Club, Trabzonspor, because despite coronavirus pandemic the games in turkey are going on. He has clarified that he ‘did not feel comfortable’ playing football during this coronavirus pandemic. He and the club have mutually agreed to terminate the contract.

Obi Mikel who played for Chelsea for eleven long years is a Nigerian now representing Turkish Club. His contract with the Turkish club was till May 2021. He was playing in the Super Lig of turkey which is one of the few sporting competitions still active and currently completing its fixture.

Mikel who played for Chelsea from 2006 to 2017 and played 368 matches. At his Instagram Mikel posted “there is more to life than football.” He wrote “I do not feel comfortable and don’t want to play football in this situation. Everyone should be at home with their families and loved ones in this critical time.” He also said that football season should be cancelled as the world is facing such turbulent times.

As a part of deal Mikel will not get the remaining contract amount. Mikel played five of the most prominent leagues of Europe like English, Spanish, German, Italy, France and Champions League.

21-year old Francisco Garcia, young football coach, dies of novel coronavirus in Spain. Garcia was working with Atletico Portada Alta was suffering from leukemia which made him vulnerable against the virus and he was taken to the Regional Hospital of Malaga with severe coronavirus symptoms where he passed away on Sunday.

Expressing condolence over the death the club issued a statement “we want to express our deepest condolences to the family, friends and relatives of our coach Francisco Garcia who has left us, unfortunately, unfortunately.” Garcia is the youngest victim of coronavirus.

Football fraternity has expressed deepest condolences over the untimely death of young football coach. All football activities have already stand suspended in Spain after the spread of COVID-19.

Novy Kapadia, famous sports commentator, got a big relief when the Union Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs issued a cheque of Rs. Four Lakh for his treatment. Novy Kapadia had been suffering from motor neurone disease which has made him immobile. The rare disease motor neurone basically causes the nerves in the spine and brain to lose function over time. On top of this the Delhi University where he taught English is not granted his pension after his retirement.

Many thanks Shri Kiren Rijiju ji for extending financial help to @NovyKapadia

Your kind gesture will inspire the sporting fraternity, especially football fraternity. https://t.co/pIJJqtlcdY

— Shaji Prabhakaran (@Shaji4Football) March 16, 2020

The four lakh given under the Deendyal Upadhayay National Welfare Fund for sportsperson scheme of central government, will help him in his treatment of the ailment he is suffering from. Several representations had been presented to Ministry of Human Resource and Development for the grant of pension to Novy Kapadia. Novy retired as an English lecturer at Khalsa College, North Campus two years back and since then he is not getting his pension.

My friend @NovyKapadia has been battling loneliness and illness. He doesn’t need sympathy. He needs company. Have known him long and am sure he will fight back @kaypeem @uthraGC @sapnehai @SunilWarrier1 @MarcusMergulhao @rupayanb @DhimanHT

— Vijay Lokapally (@vijaylokapally) February 23, 2020

Novy, considered encyclopaedia of football is an outstanding football commentator. He has penned several books. He is not married and lives alone at his house in West Delhi. His students have also come forward with financial assistance for his treatment.