An ageless pioneer departs

Ram Chand Goala, a legendary figure in the country's domestic cricket circuit during the 80s, passed away at the age of 80 at his Brahmapally residence in Mymensingh city yesterday morning.

With his long curly figure and thick moustache, he became a beloved figure amongst the cricket lovers in the country during long career and was popularly known as 'Goalaji'.

A complete bachelor, he left behind sisters-in-law, niece, nephew, grandchildren and a host of relatives, well-wishers and admirers.

Prangon Ghosh, a grandson, informed that Goala suffered a stroke on June 9 and was under treatment at home after undergoing necessary examinations at a local hospital. "He had also suffered a massive stroke four years ago and since then he was almost bed-ridden and could not go outside," Prangon said. "He also had some other old-age complications including high blood pressure".

His cremation took place at the Bolashpur cremation ground on Friday afternoon.

"He was a legend in the truest sense of the word and inspired many generations of cricketers in Bangladesh," BCB director Sajjadul Alam Bobby told The Daily Star.

Considered one of the pioneers of left-arm spin in the country, Goala played for various reputed clubs in Mymensingh and Dhaka in a career spanning three decades. In 1981, at the age of 40, he joined Abahani and played there for 12 years up to 1993. At the age of 43, he became the oldest cricketer to debut for the national team and was included in the side that toured West Bengal in 1983. During that tour, he went on to play at the Eden Gardens in a match against West Bengal.

Goala has played with nationally and internationally reputed players like Raqibul Hasan, Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, Jahagir Shah Badsha, Shamim Kabir, Dulatuzzaman, Sadrul Anam, Jalal Yunus, Naimur Rahman Durjoy, National Team Captain Minhazul Abedin Nannu, Javed Omar Belim and Habibul Bashar Sumon.

He continued playing club cricket till the age of 57.

Goala offered his whole life for cricket and also served as a coach for various local clubs and organisations including Abahani, Mohammedan, Pandit Para and Al-Helal.

"Mymensingh produced many cricketing talents who enriched the game through their great devotion. Of them, the oldest one, Ram Chand Goala, had been inspiring and grooming the younger generations of players, passed away today," Amir Ahmed Chowdhury Ratan, a veteran sports organisers of Mymensingh region, said yesterday.

In an interview with The Daily Star in 2007, Goala had said in an emotion-choked voice, "I want to stay alive in the field forever through my boys".