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Mumbai: Selfless and true football activist Surendra Karkera, who passionately strived to provide football training to countless poor and aspiring players living in chalis and making the streets football fields through Bipin Football Academy, passed away this morning due to a massive heart attack. He was 71 years old. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter-in-law. Due to his death, the Mumbai football world has suffered a huge mental shock.
From international footballers to ordinary workers, Karker has been in awe of everyone, from international footballers to ordinary workers, who strived to train poor and needy children in football and organized inter-centre football tournaments for the last 34 years through the Bipin Putball Academy. Karkera has dedicated his life for ordinary footballers in the past four decades. Even when he had no money in his pocket, he would not only take money out of his own pocket but spread the word from football donors, social and corporate companies. This activist who has done selfless service to football has trained many poor and needy people in his life. He was admitted to a night school so that he could get an education. In order to solve the problem of their livelihood, many of them were employed in hotel-companies. He made many footballers out of this.
Karkar’s glory from Mumbai football
Surendra Karkera was recently honored by the Mumbai District Football Association with a lifetime achievement award for serving football through the Bipin Football Academy for the last four decades to train poor children in football and develop their passion for football.
Organizing football training in memory of the child
His son Bipin Karkera wanted to watch the Rovers Cup match, but he died in an accident before the match could be shown. Bipin’s death was a big shock to Karkar. As a penance for not being able to fulfill the boy’s wish, he started the Bipin Memorial Football Tournament. For this tournament, they used to set up training centers all over Mumbai and surrounding suburbs through expert football coaches and in each center the players were trained in football. Also each center formed a team and organized their football tournament. He has been doing this for the past 34 years with great passion in the memory of his son. His untimely demise has come as a shock to the Bipin Football Academy and the poor-promising footballers.
