Veteran hockey coach Fazlul Haque, popularly known as Ostad Fazlu among his pupils and hockey fraternity of Bangladesh, passed away at the Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital in the city on Wednesday.
He was 57. He left behind his widow, one daughter, and hosts of well-wishers to mourn his death.
Fazlu injured himself when he fell to the ground at home in the morning. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead, as his family notified the media.
Fazlu began his playing career with PWD Club in 1977 and went on to play for Victoria SC, Sadharanbima, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Usha Krira Chakra, and Dhaka Wanderers over the course of a decade.聽
He had to retire from playing early owing to injuries before dedicating himself to developing schoolchildren as professional players, using the Armanitola High School playground in early 1990.
He founded the Ostad Fazlu Academy and made significant contributions to the development of players for the national hockey team, producing approximately 20 players, including national captain Russell Mahmoud Jimmy.
For this contribution, Fazlu received the Bangladesh Sports Press Association award as the best grassroots coach in 2016.
Fazlu was buried to rest at the family graveyard in Shaheb Bazar after the namaz-e-janaza at the Tara Masjid after Asr prayers.
The Bangladesh Olympic Association, Bangladesh Football Federation, and some other federations and associations condoled his death through media release.
