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Xtra Time Web Desk: Ex India goalkeeper Prasanta Dora on Tuesday breathed his last after fighting a critical disease. The 44 year old goalkeeper was suffering from hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. This disease is very rare among adults. He has been having fever since August and had to be admitted in a hospital in Dum Dum. The doctors failed to diagnose him at an early stage. Later he had to be shifted to AMRI and was discharged. However his condition deteriorated and was admitted to Tata Medical Research Center on December 28.

According to his brother Hemanta Dora, "My brother's platelets were getting lower. He needed blood. His wife Saumi applied for O + group blood to save her husband's life. Blood was also applied for him from various football-loving groups. But all the efforts did not work in the end as my brother passed away.”

On being asked if any clubs approached Prasanta's family for help, Hemanta said, "None of the clubs came forward to help my brother's family. Satayajit Chatterjee rang me to enquire about his condition. Ex footballer Gautam Sarkar and Soma Biswas visited Tata Medical Center few days back. My brother was in ventilation for last four days. He breathed his last around 1:40pm today."

Prasanta was a versatile goalkeeper in his playing days having plied his trade in all the three big clubs – East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting. He also represented Bengal in the Santosh Trophy. The biggest moment for Prasanta’s career came when he was picked for the Indian team in 1999 for SAFF Cup and SAFF Games.

Prasanta was employed with Reserve Bank of India. He was into coaching as well, training the budding footballers in his locality in Baidyabati, Hooghly. Recently he shifted to Nagerbazar.
The death of Prasanta Dora is mourned by everyone in the football fraternity.