Former AIFF secretary Ashok Ghosh dead

KOLKATA - Former All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary Ashok Ghosh, who was instrumental in India hosting the glamorous Nehru Gold Cup international tournament, died Thursday following a massive heart attack at his south Kolkata residence.

Family sources said the end came at 2.20 a.m., a short while after the 77-year-old renowned sports administrator suffered cardiac arrest. Ghosh is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

Born Aug 27, 1933, Ghosh rose to occupy the post of secretary of the AIFF from 1980 to 1988 after a stint as secretary of the state body Indian Football Association (IFA).

It was during his tenure in the AIFF that the Nehru Gold Cup began in 1982, with Kolkata hosting the maiden edition.

Crack teams like Uruguay, Poland, the erstwhile Soviet Union, Argentina and Hungary participated in the various editions of the tourney in the 1980s. Ghosh also played a big role in Kolkata hosting the South Asian Federation games (now called South Asian Games) in 1987.

Known for his simplicity and “my-dear” approach, Ghosh was immensely popular in the sports fraternity and held important posts in the Bengal Olympic Association and other bodies till his death.

State sports minister Kanti Ganguly, footballers, sports organisers and sports lovers were among a large number of people who went to Ghosh’s residence to pay their respects.

Later, his body was taken in a procession to Town Club, Netaji Indoor Stadium, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting Clubs, and IFA office.

His mortal remains were consigned to flames at the Keoratala crematorium.