Assam football legend Gilbertson Sangma passed away on Saturday morning, April 4 at the age of 71, ending a remarkable journey that shaped the sport in the state. Widely known as the ‘Man with the Golden Shoe’, Sangma breathed his last at his residence in Guwahati after battling age-related ailments.
A towering figure in Assam football in the 1970s and 1980s, Sangma helped put the state on the domestic football map at a time when teams from Bengal and Kerala dominated the scene. His consistency, talent and eye for goal made him one of the most admired strikers of his era.
Sangma had been unwell for the past few years and was also suffering from dementia. His passing prompted an outpouring of tributes, with clubs such as NorthEast United FC expressing condolences and remembering his immense contribution to football in the region.
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia also shared a post honoring Sangma’s legendary career.
HOW GILBERTSON SANGMA’S CAREER HAS TURNED OUT
Sangma’s football journey spanned over 17 years during which he represented Assam and Assam Police with distinction. One of his most iconic moments came in 1981 when he scored the winning goal to help Assam Police defeat Dempo SC and lift the prestigious Bordoloi Trophy.
He also played a key role in Assam’s memorable Santosh Trophy campaign in 1974–75, scoring the decisive goal to knock out defending champions Kerala and take the team to the quarter-finals.
At the peak of his career, Sangma earned national recognition, representing India in international friendlies in Indonesia and Thailand in the mid-1970s. His contributions to the game were later awarded the Assam Saurabh Award in 2022, the state’s second highest civilian honour.
International footballer Sri Gilbertson Sangma speaks to young footballers to keep up with their football practice…. pic.twitter.com/8UCT5KgAAh— Sports Authority Of Assam (@assam_sports) May 2, 2020
Even after retiring from active service with the police, Sangma remained closely associated with football in Assam and continued to inspire the next generation.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
04 Apr 2026 14:27 IST
