Hockey legend Abdus Sadeque passes away

Abdus Sadeque, a pioneering figure in Bangladesh hockey, passed away on Sunday morning at a hospital in Dhaka.

He was 80 and had been suffering from cancer for more than a year.

Sadeque breathed his last while undergoing treatment at Continental Hospital in Gulshan, Dhaka at 7:38 am.

The hockey legend left behind two sons, a daughter and a host of well-wishers.

His first namaz-e-janaza will be held at Baitus Subhan mosque in Bashundhara R/A after asr prayers on Sunday. A second namaz-e-janaza will be held tomorrow morning at Banani DOHS ground, according to family sources.

A national sports award recipient, Sadeque was a rare sporting personality who excelled in both football and hockey. Besides representing the country as a player, he played significant roles as a captain, coach, organiser and administrator. 

He not only excelled in hockey but was an accomplished football player as well. He became the first captain of Abahani's football team when the club was established in 1972. 

Meanwhile, having represented the Pakistan national hockey team before independence, he later played for Bangladesh and earned the distinction of becoming the first captain of the Bangladesh national team, a rare feat for an athlete.

Sadeque also led Bangladesh's hockey team at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok, a tournament regarded as the country's first major step onto the international hockey stage. 

After retiring from playing, Sadeque remained actively involved in sports administration and development. He served as the general secretary of Bangladesh Hockey Federation in various terms.