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Former Delhi state footballer and president of the Delhi Soccer Association, Umesh Sood died this Sunday morning after a massive heart attack at his south Delhi residence. He was admitted yesterday to a heart specialist Nursing Home following chest complaint but was discharged late night after a check-up.
He was 73 years old and left behind him his wife, a son and daughter.
He did his schooling from Delhi’s reputed Butteral School and passed his graduation from Delhi University’s Hindu College.
He started his playing career in three sports disciplines – football, hockey and basketball at school and college in 1963. He represented the state teams in National competitions on several occasions in all three discilines during the 1960s and 1970s.
He played for reputed Delhi clubs, New Delhi Heroes and walled-city giants City Club in the Delhi Senior Division league in football, Khalsa Blues in Hockey and Butlerian Club in Basketball.
Umesh Sood was elected as DSA President and served with distinction till 1998. During his tenure, the local league flourished and was held annually at the Ambedkar Stadium. He procured sponsorship for each edition of the local league.
In 1998 he was re-elected as President of the DSA with late Syed Nasir Ali as secretary. During Sood’s tenure as president, the last stages of the DSA League were held under temporary intalled floodlights. This led to capacity crowds witnessing the semifinals and final of the DSA League.
An excellent organiser he was honoured by the AIFF and made manager of the Indian team in international tournaments. The DSA was also given the task of staging the Sub-Junior National championships for the Mir Iqbal Hussain trophy from 1997 to 99.
In 1996 he helped organise the group stage league matches of the U-17 Asian Championships at the Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi.
An active and versatile sportsman in his prime, Umesh Sood played on the left or as a striker for New Delhi Heroes and later City Club in the local league.
For years he was involved in organising the annual Butlerian basketball tournament in Delhi.
He also played football, hockey and basketball for Hindu college and represented Delhi University in football.
The then All India Football Federation president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi apointed him as manager of the National Football team to tournaments in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
He was creamed this afternoon at Lodhi Road Creamation ground. A wreat was presented by veteran sports journalist Kewal Kaushik. A large number from the soccer, hockey and basketball fraternity including AIFF vice-president and DSA president Subhash Chopra, DSA managing committee members, referees, sports journalists and South Asia FIFA regional representative Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran, AIFF general manager Retd. Col. Brij Mohan Mehta were present at the funeral.
The AIFF and DSA have condoled the death of Umesh Sood.
