Kannur, 08 Nov (H.S.):

Former Santosh Trophy footballer and veteran coach V.K. Sreenivasan, who made significant contributions to Kerala football as both a player and a trainer, passed away on Sunday. He was 84.

A native of Podikkundu in Kannur district, Sreenivasan was a respected figure in Kerala's football fraternity, having dedicated several decades of his life to the sport.

He began his football career with the Spirited Youths Club in Kannur, where his talent and commitment to the game helped him establish himself as a promising player.

His performances at the club level eventually paved the way for opportunities in competitive football, including representing Kerala in the prestigious Santosh Trophy national football championship.

Sreenivasan later joined Travancore Titanium Products Limited in Thiruvananthapuram, where he continued his association with football while working as an employee of the company.

He also served as the company's football coach for several years, contributing to the development of its football team and mentoring players.

His association with Titanium marked an important phase of his sporting career, during which he combined his responsibilities as an employee with his passion for football.

Sreenivasan belonged to a generation of footballers who helped strengthen Kerala's sporting tradition through their involvement in club football, institutional teams and national-level competitions.

His death has been mourned by members of the sporting community, including former players and football enthusiasts, who remembered his contributions to the game.

His mortal remains have been kept at his residence in Irinavu for the public to pay their last respects. The funeral will take place on Sunday evening.

He is survived by his wife, Savithri, and children, Dineesh, an employee of Kerala Bank in Thiruvananthapuram, and Deepa.

His siblings, Raghavan, Narayanan, a former member of Pallikunnu Panchayat, Lakshmi and Janaki, predeceased him.

Prominent personalities from the sporting fraternity have expressed condolences over his demise.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman