Abdual Sadek, First Abahani Football Captain and Hockey Legend, Passes Away

Abdual Sadek, a legendary and versatile athlete in Bangladesh, has passed away. Sadek, who was deeply passionate about hockey, also made a significant mark on the country's top-tier football. He was the first football captain of Abahani Krira Chakra when it was founded as Iqbal Sporting in 1972. Sadek played as a 'stopper' in football defense. Although his captaincy lasted only a year, he remained involved with Abahani as a player and coach until 1979. His true passion, however, was hockey. He was instrumental in forming the 'Combined Hockey Club' in 1965, which dominated the Dhaka Hockey League for four years. Later, he joined the team that transformed into the historic Abahani hockey team, which he captained for many years. Sadek was also a key member of the East Pakistan hockey team and received a call-up to the Pakistan national team. Former footballer Golam Sarwar Tipu and hockey stalwart Pratap Shanker Hazra remembered Sadek as a great player and amiable personality.

The passing of Abdual Sadek marks the loss of a significant figure in Bangladeshi sports history, celebrated for his contributions to both football and hockey.