Former state footballer Ramanna dies in Kolkata

Source: BDFA & Ei Samay

Kolkata Maidan Folklore has it that that supporters of Mohammedan Sporting would chant 
Shawan ka mahina, Mohammedan kare shor, Ramanna kare center, Papanna kare score while watching them turning out for their favorite team. 

That was the 60's era and the chant was taken from a Hindi number, which was very popular at that time. They were the brother duo from Mysore who swayed Kolkata Maidan, much before the arrival of Habib-Akbar from Hyderabad. 

Ramanna breathed his last at a government hospital in Kolkata in the morning of Monday, April 4, 2016. He was 77 years old and was unwell for the last three months. 

Ramanna remained bachelor all his life, made Kolkata his home and did not return Karnataka. 

Ramanna’s performance in the Santhosh Trophy 1962 caught everyone’s attention and he was directly picked by the Kolkata club. He played for East Bengal in the 1964 and 65 and then moved to Mohammedan Sporting in 1966.

He returned to Bangalore joined CIL in 1967, the very next season Ramanna went to Kolkata again to Mohammedan Sporting, and donned Black and White color till his retirement in 1973. Ramanna’s brother duo Papanna came back to Bangalore and joined ITI.  

Ramanna’s also had another brother named Rajanna – Papanna, Rajanna, and Rammana formed a formidable trio in the footballing circle in the state. 

KSFA and BDFA condoled the demise of the great son of the state. 

One minute of silence was observed during BDFA B Division RBI Vs Southern Blues match at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Tuesday, April 5.