AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Anil Kamat, Assistant General Secretary and Director of Competitions, All India Football Federation, passed away in New Delhi on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, after a brief illness. He was 70.

An authority of competition organisation and match operations, Kamat, who was from Goa, was associated with the AIFF for nearly 25 years.

Condoling his death, AIFF President Mr Kalyan Chaubey said, "I am truly saddened by Anil Kamat's demise. In Anil ji's death, Indian Football's structure has lost a pillar that will be hard to replace. His deep knowledge of football and its management was an asset for Indian football at both domestic and international level. My heart goes out to his family at this hour of grief. Om Shanti."

AIFF Acting Secretary General Mr M Satyanarayan said, "The passing away of Anil Kamat has come as a huge shock for the AIFF and everyone in the Indian football family. Personally, I have lost a great friend and a person who always guided me with finer points of competition organisation and match operations, which was his forte. May his soul rest in peace. He was truly one of the most loved and most respected persons in the Football House."

Kamat, who was a bachelor, was originally from Chinchinim village in Goa, famous for producing many top footballers over the years.

He was associated with football from his earlier days and was an official with CRC Chinchinim and Salcete Football Club. He was also a former Executive Committee Member and Joint-Secretary of the Goa Football Association.

The Indian senior men's team, who are currently training in Kolkata, for the June 6th qualifier against Kuwait, observed a minute of silence in memory of Kamat during Tuesday evening's session of practice.