The Dempo SC legend passes away at the age of 75 in Bengaluru on March 6
Panaji: Kuppuswami Sampath was undeniably one of the best goalkeepers to have ever played for Dempo Sports Club. He was an incredible shot-stopper; his agility and reflexes were remarkable. His confidence and courage in goal inspired the whole team during his era.
Having played just six years at the club, K. Sampath managed to win the Rovers Cup twice with the Golden Eagles, thus making him a club legend!
K. Sampath breathed his last on March 6 in Bengaluru and is survived by his wife and daughter. He was 75 years old.
“We are saddened to learn of the demise of K. Sampath, a goalkeeper who was a real football club legend. He shone for the club, and both his talent and passion were unmatched. He will be remembered for his shot-blocking skills, on-field leadership, and love for the game. My condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace,” stated Dempo Sports Club president Shrinivas Dempo.
Sampath was a dedicated goalkeeper who excelled for the team. His extraordinary skill and dedication made him an essential member of the squad. He served as a leader, mentor, and role model for both the players and the staff.
The former India custodian participated in 18 international competitions, including the 1970 and 1972 Merdeka Cup, the 1970 Asian Games, and the 1971 Pesta Sukan Cup.
Sampath was one of the few members of the team to appear in each of India’s six games during the course of the country’s 11-day run at the 1970 Asian Games thanks to the two coaches, GMH Basha and P.K. Banerjee, who had such trust in him. Sampath’s teammates still talk about his heroics in the dying moments of the bronze medal game when he soared like a bird to the far post to block a hard shot from legendary Japan attacker Kunishige Kamamoto. India ultimately prevailed in the game by a single goal.
“Former India goalkeeper K. Sampath’s demise comes as a big loss for Indian football. He was one of the best goalkeepers of the 1970s and will be revered for years to come. As an upcoming goalkeeper in my younger days, I had heard of his heroics in the 1970 Asian Games, and was hugely inspired by it,” said AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey.
He had also played for the Madras Engineering Club (Bangalore) from 1960 to 1972, and for Dempo SC from 1973 to 1978. It was at the latter club where he won the Rovers Cup in 1974 and 1978. The former goalkeeper also coached the team in 1985, but found it little tough to deal with the players with whom he had played in the past.
The star goalkeeper who was part of the bronze-medal winning Indian team at 1970 Bangkok Asian Games later coached teams like Army Service Corps (ASC) and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) in Bengaluru.