Former India footballer and East Bengal great Surajit Sengupta passes away

After being tested positive for COVID-19, Sengupta was admitted to the hospital on January 23 and was put on ventilator since last week. He breathed his last this afternoon.

Kolkata: Former India footballer and East Bengal legend Surajit Sengupta died here in a city hospital due to Covid-19 related complications on Thursday.

He was 71.

Condolences started pouring in after the East Bengal great died at around 2 pm. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described him as a "perfect gentleman" and an "outstanding national sportsman" in a tweet.

• Lost veteran star footballer Surajit Sengupta today. Heartthrob of football fans and an outstanding national sportsman as well as a perfect gentleman, he will ever be in our hearts.
  Deepest condolences.

  — Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 17, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Lost veteran star footballer Surajit Sengupta today. Heartthrob of football fans and an outstanding national sportsman as well as a perfect gentleman, he will ever be in our hearts.
  Deepest condolences.

  — Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 17, 2022

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  Lost veteran star footballer Surajit Sengupta today. Heartthrob of football fans and an outstanding national sportsman as well as a perfect gentleman, he will ever be in our hearts.
  Deepest condolences.

  — Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 17, 2022

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"Lost veteran star footballer Surajti Sengupta today. Heart throb of football fans and an outstanding national sportsman as well as a perfect gentleman, he will ever be in our hearts. Deepest condolences," Banerjee said.

The veteran footballer had a prolonged battle with Covid-19 after he was admitted to hospital in Kolkata on January 23. His condition started deteriorating and was put on a ventilator last week. He is survived by his wife Shyamali Sengupta and son Snigdhodeb Sengupta.

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Born on August 30, 1951, Sengupta started his football career at Kidderpore Club and went on to represent the Big Three clubs of the Kolkata Maidan.

He played for Mohun Bagan for two seasons from 1972 and in 1974, he made the red-and-gold his home for six years.

He signed up for Mohammedan Sporting in 1980 and later returned to Mohun Bagan at the fag end of his career.