Calcutta: Former East Bengal midfielder and Tamil Nadu Santosh Trophy captain Kalia Kulothungan passed away in the wee hours of Saturday following a road accident in his hometown Thanjavur. He was 39 and is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter.

The accident, reportedly, happened while Kulothungan was returning home on his two-wheeler after attending an U-16 football tournament. He suffered severe head injuries.

Kulothungan was an integral part of the East Bengal team that won the ASEAN Club Championship in 2003 and back-to-back National Football League titles in 2002-03 and 2003-04. Besides East Bengal, he also played for the other two Calcutta giants - Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting, Mumbai FC and Viva Kerala.

Alvito D'Cunha, who was Kulothungan's teammate at East Bengal, remembered his "dearest friend" as a "fun-loving" person. "I came to know about the mishap this morning. He was of course one of my dearest and nearest friends... We not only played together at East Bengal, but we also stayed together... We used to share accommodation at Kalindi.

"He was initially a quiet person, much of that because he wasn't much comfortable in English and Hindi. But once he got used to this city, he was a master in cracking the funniest of jokes. Fun-loving, friendly and nice, that's how I remember him," said Alvito when contacted on Saturday evening.

And how would he describe Kulothungan the player. "I would rate him as one of best around when at his peak. When he joined East Bengal, few knew about him; he was obviously not a big name... He had such a fine touch. In fact, I would say he was coach Subhas Bhowmick's trump card," Alvito, who is still associated with East Bengal, said.

<>Alvito regretted that Kulothungan wouldn't be around when East Bengal host their centenary celebrations next year. "Just the other day we celebrated 15 years of our Asean triumph... If the club plans to felicitate the members of the triumphant team of 2003 during the 100 years celebrations, he could have been invited. We were not in regular touch, the last time I spoke to him was about an year or so back, but we all will miss him," Alvito said.

Others from the football fraternity too remembered Kulothungan fondly.

Striker CK Vineeth said: "Extremely upsetting to hear about Kalia Kulothungan - he was taken too soon from all of us. Rest in peace, Anna. You will be missed!"

East Bengal, for whom he scored seven goals including one in the final of the 2002 Durand Cup against Army XI, said in a statement: "The club conveys its condolences to his family. The club flag was flown at half mast today in his memory."

Belal Ahmed Khan, assistant ground secretary of Mohammedan Sporting, said: "Kalia Kulothungan may be gone but he will never be forgotten. His memory will linger on in the hearts and minds of the Mohammedan Sporting Club faithfuls."

Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra too said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened with the news of the sudden demise of Kalia Kulothungan... We extend our deepest sympathies to the bereaved family."