Shocking death of footballer in Jalpaiguri

After the Indian national team’s camp for Nehru cup 2012 was shifted from New Delhi to Bangalore’s SAI academy due to unavailability of ground in Delhi, Indian football’s poor infrastructure has once again come in the lime light for all the wrong reasons.

This time, it’s the medical facilities which has come into question as Mahesh Thapa, a 27-year old player from Jalpaiguri, West Bengal who plays in the Bengal football league, past away today after colliding with his opponent goalkeeper in a match. By the time he was taken to the doctors, he was announced dead.

The incident comes barely four months after Bangalore footballer Venkatesh passed away during a match due to cardiac arrest. This similar type of incident happened with Cristiano Junior, who also died in the Federation Cup final match against Mohun Bagan, after colliding with goalkeeper Subrata Paul in that match.

Indian football cannot afford to lose emerging talents due to improper infrastructure and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has to ensure that proper medical facilities are present at the ground before the kick-off takes place.