Former Indian midfielder and East Bengal legend Surajit Sengupta, a member of the national team that won a bronze medal at the 1970 Asian Games, died at a municipal hospital in Kolkata on Thursday following a protracted battle with COVID-19. He is 71 years old.
The veteran soccer player lost Surajit Sengupta today. Hearts of football fans and an outstanding national sportsman as well as a perfect gentleman, he will forever be in our hearts.
Deep condolence.– Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 17, 2022
We are deeply saddened by the passing of the club legend. Our thoughts are with his family.
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Rest in peace, sir. pic.twitter.com/vzbVf2Srn2
– SC East Bengal (@sc_eastbengal) February 17, 2022
AIFF condolences on the death of Surajit Sengupta
Read https://t.co/lYPWAWtBeC#REST IN PEACE #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/SvoIuSPcnB
– Indian football team (@IndianFootball) February 17, 2022
After being tested positive for COVID-19, Sengupta was hospitalized on January 23 and has been on a ventilator since last week. He took his last breath this afternoon.
Sengupta’s death is a huge shock to East Bengal, which lost another legend, Subhas Bhowmick last month.
Sengupta was part of a golden era in East Bengal as they won six consecutive Calcutta Football League championships (1970-1976) and six IFA Shield and three Durand Cup wins.
Born on 30 August 1951, Sengupta began his football career at Club Kidderpore and went on to represent the Big Three of Kolkata Maidan.
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He played for Mohun Bagan for two seasons from 1972 and in 1974 he made the yellow jersey his home ground for six years.
He signed up for Mohammedan Sporting in 1980 and then returned to Mohun Bagan at the end of his career.
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