Prominent businessman, educationist and former Kerala Football Association (KFA) president T O Abdullah, 85, passed away at his residence at Choondi on Monday. The funeral will be held at the Thottumukham Juma Masjid at 11 am on Tuesday.
Abdullah served as the KFA president twice. The first term - from 1973 to 1978 - also coincided with Kerala’s first ever Santosh Trophy triumph in 1973. Later, he adorned the post from 1986 to 1994. He served as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) vice-president for eight years, apart from being the chairman of the AIFF Senior Selection Committee and the Referees’ Board.
Having been the vice-president of the Kerala State Sports Council, he was also instrumental in the construction of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi, of which he was an Advisory Board member. Abdullah, an engineering graduate from Aligarh Muslim University, had also served as chairman of Central College Committee, Muslim Educational Society. He also founded the Crescent Public School, Aluva, besides being founder chairman of Cochin Public School, Thrikkakara.
He is survived by wife Aisha Beevi, sons T A Abdul Hameed (Nazir), Nawas Abdulla, daughter T A Fatima (USA), daughters-in law Noorjehan, Zeena Nawas, son-in-law C M Kadir Pillai (USA), brothers T O Kathir Pillai, T O Pareed Pillai and Dr T O Shanawas and sisters T Subaida Khalid and Abida Salim.