Bengal football's very own "Bhola da" is no more
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Bengal football's very own "Bhola da" is no more | Image: XtraTime[/caption]
Kolkata: The battle has at last come to an end. Ashwini Kumar Barat has breathed his last today at his own place. The name may not seem as familiar as his contributions have been in Indian football. The football-saint from Chawk bazaar, West Bengal had produced innumerable footballing talents to Indian football, who later on became stalwarts for the national team as well. Football legends like the great Surajit Sengupta, Tanumoy Bose, Swarup Das, Anit Ghosh, Falguni Dutta, all got nourished and trained by respected “Bhola da”. The 81 years old football saint who didn’t take a single penny from anyone throughout his life as “help”, was critically ill at his place for months, lost all his glorious memories which made the country and its football proud.
It is learnt that Indian football legend Surajit Sengupta used to play cricket till the eleventh standard before Ashwini Kumar Barat scouted him from an inter-class football tournament at Hooghly Branch School. The incident changed the story of Surajit’s life. Even in his senior career, Surajit used to go to the Hooghly Branch School for rectifying the subtle technical things about his game. The ever beloved student Surajit also helped his guru to operate the knees as it got affected for shooting at least 2000 shots per day to train his students. Such was his dignity that Ashwini never consented his students to arrange any benefit match to raise money. Surajit even wrote in his autobiography,”I could never become a complete footballer unless Ashwini Kumar Barat were there in my life. Whoever I’m now is because of him.”
Those who want to pay homage to their beloved Bhola da, have been requested to come to Hooghly District Sports Association campus where the body will be laid down from 10am to 10.45am tomorrow.
03 Comments
Karla Gleichauf
12 May 2017 at 05:28 pm
On the other hand, we denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralized by the charms of pleasure of the moment
M Shyamalan
12 May 2017 at 05:28 pm
On the other hand, we denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralized by the charms of pleasure of the moment
Liz Montano
12 May 2017 at 05:28 pm
On the other hand, we denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralized by the charms of pleasure of the moment