Internet Desk: Former Indian football star, Maharashtra and Tata Sports Club captain Marto Gracias passed away following a cardiac arrest on Sunday, July 24, here, in Mumbai. Gracias, who had undergone a bypass surgery a couple of years ago, suffered a heart attack at his residence on Sunday evening and was rushed to a nearby hospital, but breathed his last on admission.
Gracias, 75, is his survived by his wife Theresa and daughter Evelyn. He represented the country in a couple of international tournament and his best efforts came when he scored a hat-trick in India’s 4-0 win against Hong Kong in a league match of the 1967 Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.
Born in Goa, Gracias, who was a versatile striker played for Salgaocar SC, Goa for a couple of season before moving to Bombay and joined the famed Tata SC in 1967 and represented the Mumbai club till he hung up his boots in 1978-79. During his stint with the Bombay House football team, Gracias led the team to triumphs in major tournaments, including the Rovers Cup and Bandodkar Trophy and in the local competition they won the Harwood League and Nadkarni Cup. Gracias also captained the Maharashtra team and also represented Goa in the National championships.
The funeral mass will be celebrated at the Our Lady of Assumption Church, near Dhanukarwadi Bridge, Kandivali (West) at 4.00 pm on Tuesday, July 26.