Former Asiad gold medallist goalkeeper Burman no more

Asian Games winning former India football goalkeeper Prodyut Burman passed away on Saturday evening at a city hospital following a prolonged illness.

The 81-year-old was suffering from Parkinson’s disease for a long time and breathed his last at the SSKM Hospital on Saturday at 4.40 pm. He is survived by wife, one son and a daughter.

“He was hospitalised for four times in last seven months,” son Pronab Burman said.

Having started off his career from Eastern Railway before heading to Mohun Bagan, his moment of glory came in the Jakarta 1962 Asiad when he played second fiddle to main goalkeeper Peter Thangaraj.

Paying rich tribute to him, legendary footballer PK Banerjee who also started alongside Burman at the Railways said: “He was a goalkeeper of extraordinary calibre.”

“He played in three matches of the Asian Games but missed the final,” Banerjee, who had scored a goal in their 2-1 win against South Korea in the final, remembered.

“We were very close friends. It’s a sad day of my life. He left me on this auspicious day of Kali Puja (festival). I pray to God that his soul rest in peace,” he said in his condolence message.

Burman represented Eastern Railway in a golden period when they had won their only Calcutta Football League Premier Division title in 1958. Later he moved to Mohun Bagan.