- Wednesday, February 26, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIA’S renowned football commentator and historian Novy Kapadia on Thursday (18) passed away due to health complications. He was called the ‘voice of Indian football’ for decades. Kapadia was suffering from a motor-neurone disease, a degenerative condition under which nerves in the spine and brain become dysfunctional over time.
The veteran was bed-ridden for the last few years and was in the news recently due to pension-related issues. Former Indian sports minister Kiren Rijiju intervened to help Kapadia, who taught in Delhi University for more than four decades, receive a grant of rupees four lakh (£3,993).
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons also came forward to give him financial assistance.
Kapadia also authored a couple books besides doing commentary. His books are – The Football Fanatic’s Essential Guide and Barefoot to Boots: The Many Lives of Indian Football.
Tributes came pouring in for Kapadia on social media as the news of his demise broke with many sharing anecdotes about his life and career, during which he covered as many as nine Fifa World Cups.
We are saddened by the demise of Novy Kapadia, eminent journalist, commentator, and football pundit. May his contribution shine through everyone he has touched through his coverage of #IndianFootball ⚽ #RIP ? pic.twitter.com/NPBQMEJNg7
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) November 18, 2021
The Indian football team condoled Kapadia’s death and wrote on Twitter, “We are saddened by the demise of Novy Kapadia, eminent journalist, commentator, and football pundit. May his contribution shine through everyone he has touched through his coverage of #IndianFootball.”
