In a shocking blow to young footballers, D. Venkatesh of local club Bangalore Mars, collapsed on the field during an ‘A’ division match and died owing to lack of medical facilities at the ground, on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old had played for barely five minutes as substitute after pleading with his manager to get him on the field before collapsing to the turf. The Bangalore Football stadium, the hub of the sport in the state, sorely lacked in facilities and amateurish efforts to revive Venkatesh failed before a couple of his team-mates took him to nearby Hosmat in an auto where he was declared dead on arrival.
Following Cristiano Junior’s death on the field in 2004 at the Kanteerava stadium, there was a huge clamour to enforce medical facilities at the venues but Venkatesh’s death reveals the pathetic attitude of the officials.
FATAL ATTACK
Dec 2004
During the Fed Cup final at the Sree Kanteerava stadium, Brazilian-born Cristiano Junior representing Dempo SC, collided with Mohun Bagan goalkeeper while scoring a goal before collapsing due to cardiac arrest. He died en route to the hospital.
Aug 2008
An inter-collegiate football tournament turned out to be the deathbed for 24-year-old Albert Auguste. The Ivory Coast national died of a cardic arrest on field during the match at Central College grounds.
April 2011
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s 24-year-old reserve goalkeeper Arun Kumar died of a cardiac arrest two days after sustaining a shin fracture during training.