Masum leaves too early

Sohel Al Masum, a  Bangladesh national team footballer of the 90s, breathed his last at a hospital in Dhaka yesterday at the age of 41. The former footballer died of cardiac arrest, according to a press release issued by the Bangla-desh Football Federation. Masum is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a host of well-wishers.

The Manikganj native, who learnt his trade at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan (BKSP), started his top-level career with Youngmen's Fakirerpool Club in the 1993 season alongside other famous footballers such as Hasan Al Mamun and Amin Rana. Masum played as the left-back while Hasan played as the right-back in that Fakirerpool team, which played some tremendous football over the next two seasons in a 5-3-2 formation, which was unique for that time in our country.

Masum later moved on to play for Abahani, Mohammedan and Muktijoddha Sangsad while representing the national team for a few years. His best exploits with the red and green came in Bangladesh's triumphant campaign in the four-nation Myanmar King's Cup in 1995, where he played in all the matches for his country.

Masum will be buried at the family graveyard in Singair, Manikganj tomorrow.