Indian football legend Chuni Goswami passed away in Kolkata after suffering from a prolonged illness. The former national team captain was 82. His family announced that he breathed his last at 5pm today.
Goswami was captain of India's most successful national side that won gold at the 1962 Asian Games and finished runner-up in the 1964 Asian Cup. He made his international debut in 1956, but ended it in 1964 at the age of 27, although he continued playing club football till 1968. He played 50 games for India.
As a striker, Goswami was known for his dribbling skills, ball control and speed. He spent his entire football career (1954-68) as a Mohun Bagan player and later event coached the Indian national team in 1991-92. Under his captaincy, Mohun Bagan won three consecutive Durand Cups and four consecutive Kolkata League seasons.
Interestingly, Goswami was also an exceptional first-class cricketer, leading Bengal to the Ranji Trophy final in 1971-72. He was a medium-pacer and an all-rounder.
He was also instrumental in defeating the West Indies in Indore in 1966 when he played for a combined Central and East zone team. Goswami took eight wickets against the legendary side led by Gary Sobers.
Goswami was suffering from underlying ailments, including sugar, prostrate and nerve problems. After being hospitalised for a day, he died of a cardiac arrest.
