Soccer Godfather Makes a Void

Bhubaneswar (Surjit Kumar Dhal): Renowned football coach and Godfather of Odisha football Nanda Kishore Patnaik passed away last night while undergoing treatment at a private hospital here for Covid-19. Nanda Kishore, who had created number of women players in national and international level, had tested positive for the contagious virus on May 12 and was admitted to Baripda Covid hospital.

He was later shifted to a private hospital in the State capital for better treatment after his condition started deteriorating. His oxygen level continued to fall due to widespread inflammations and infections in lungs. Despite all efforts of doctors, he succumbed. According to reports, senior administrative officers and noted sports persons were directly monitoring his health condition and extended all help to save the precious life of the sports coach. A pall of gloom descended on the sports fraternity following the untimely demise of Nanda Kishore.

According to sources, the football academy managed by him in Bhubaneswar, the state’s poorest and most talented women football players were provided free food and kit. His death has cast a shadow of mourning over the sports world. He received the Real Hero Award from CNN IBN.

Nanda Kishore has groomed many international players for the state. He has made himself renowned as a women football coach. He has created many junior and senior international players like Sraddhanjali Samantaray, Geetanjali Samanta, Ranjita Mohanty, Sarita Jayanti Behera, Mamata Kumari Samanta, Sudipta Das and many more. The Reporters Today family expresses deep grieves on the sad demise of the Godfather of Odisha football.