Kolkata: Former Karnataka defender Thomas Mathews, who played for East Bengal, passed away in Bengaluru on Monday. He was 71 and is survived by his wife Mary and two sons.
Mathews, who excelled as a wing-back, shot into limelight when he was selected for the Junior Nationals in Quilon in 1972. After playing for HAL and ITI, the Bengaluru native moved to Kolkata where he played for East Bengal from 1979 to 1981.He was a member of East Bengal’s Federation Cup-winning team in 1980.
The Karnataka State Football Association and East Bengal club mourned the former player’s demise.