Former India defender AD Nagendra is no more

Football in India is going through a rough patch right now as recently Indian Women`s Football team failed to register a team of 13 players from a squad of 23 players in AFC Asia Cup and now followed  by tragic incident on Wednesday where fans mourns the death of former Indian defender AD Nagendra who passed away at the age of 79.

AD Nagendra was a former Indian defender who was also the member of the Mysore State Santosh Trophy team for 9 years from 1966 to 1975. Nagendra even served as a growing board member of KSFA (Karnataka State Football Association). Nagendra even coached many state football teams including the India U-19 side.

AIFF President Praful Patel, in his condolence message, said, “It is really sad to hear that Mr. Nagendra is no longer among us. Besides being a sublime footballer, he was also an able administrator. His invaluable contribution to Indian Football will always remain with us. I share the grief.”

AIFF condoles the death of Santosh trophy winner A D Nagendra 🙏 #IndianFootball #RIP pic.twitter.com/pN9f130w4J

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 27, 2022

AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das said: “Mr. Nagendra alive in his achievements. He was a competent footballer, and an administrator. As a coach he nurtured many talents, and was an inspiration for so many footballers. My condolences to his family. We pray for his soul to rest in peace.”

The President of Delhi Football Association also showed his condolences towards his family via a tweet in which he wrote: “Former India International and Santosh Trophy winner Shri AD Nagendra passed away this evening in Bengaluru.

My sincere condolences to his family and friends. RIP

MR Nagendra was a former Treasurer of Karnataka Football Association and current board member. His contributions will never be forgotten”.

After he retired from football, he joined the State Bank of Mysore and took part in many inter-bank tournaments. “He got his NIS diploma and then went to Germany for a diploma He was then in charge of spotting and nurturing talent in a former State Association Official said.

Nagendra was brought up in a family of footballers in Tumakuru, Karnataka. With three of the five brothers being footballers,

At Jupiters he played a big part in lifting the club from B Division to the top tier. He never missed a penalty and I remember watching his game in the newsreel at the Vijayalakshmi theatre near Chickpet. Such was his skill that that he used to take the ball from goalline to goalline and give the pass,” Nagendra neighbour and former ITI player R Ramakrishna told TOI.