Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has extended his condolences to the All India Football Federation and the family and friends of former Indian footballer Carlton Chapman who passed away at the age of 49 on Monday.
Chapman enjoyed a distinguished international and club career, featuring for Punjab-based club JCT, FC Kochi as well as Kolkata giants East Bengal where he scored a hat-trick in a famous 6-2 victory against Iraqi club Al Zawra'a in the now defunct Asian Cup Winners Cup.
Having represented the Indian national team from 1995 to 2001, the midfielder’s most decorated achievement came in 1997 when he skippered the Blue Tigers to the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Gold Cup title.
The AFC President said: “On behalf of the Asian football family, I would like to convey my deepest sympathies to the AIFF and to the loved ones of Carlton Chapman.
“He will always be remembered for his contributions to Indian football and for his passion for the game. The whole of the Asian football family joins me in mourning the loss of a great icon of Indian football.”
After hanging up his boots, Chapman then shifted his attention to coaching, taking up a role at his boyhood club Tata Football Academy before assuming the technical director role at Quartz FC in Kozhikode, Kerala.
The thoughts and prayers of the AFC and the rest of the Asian football community are with the family and friends of Chapman, the AIFF and the Indian football family during this difficult time.