MARGAO
Former India national team midfielder and coach Krishnaji Rao, who passed away on Sunday in Bengaluru.
He had made his senior international debut in 1966 at the Asian Games in Bangkok and represented India at the Asian Cup Qualifiers in 1967 in Rangoon (now Yangon) and the Merdeka Cup in 1968 in Kuala Lumpur, earning 4 caps.
Additionally, Rao served as the Indian team's assistant coach during their tour of England in 2000 and was the Technical Director in 2001 at the Merdeka Cup, Pre-World Cup, Sahara Millennium Cup and tour of England.
At the domestic level, he represented and captained Mysore in the Santosh Trophy on multiple occasions, winning it in back-to-back years -- 1967 and 1968. He also played for CIL in Bangalore and would later serve as Technical Director for Karnataka and head coach for HAL in Bengaluru in the 1990s.
Many past players condoled Rao's demise. Alvito Pereira, former India and East Bengal midfielder, said, “Krishnaji Rao was a gentleman; a gem of a person. I played under him when he was the coach of the national team.”
Mahesh Gawli, assistant coach of Indian Arrows, stated, “He was my coach at junior and senior levels of the national team. A gentleman to the core, who had a vast knowledge and (he was) a true legend.”
“I express my deepest condolences to Krishnaji Rao's family. His contribution to Indian football will always be remembered and the football fraternity mourns his demise," said Derrick Pereira, Technical Director of FC Goa.
“Rao was an ace midfielder who enjoyed great success at the domestic and international levels, and also served Indian football as a coach. My sincere condolences to his family,” said Shabbir Ali, former player and coach.
