Kozhikode: Former footballer and Kerala’s first female football coach Fousiya Mampatta passed away. The 52-year-old was working as coach at Nadakkavu School here. She was fighting cancer.
A native of Vellimadukunnu in Kozhikode, Fousiya took to the field at a time when girls were not even allowed to go to study, let alone play. She was the Goalkeeper for Kerala womens football team during the national games and All India Junior Women's Championship. Although Kerala lost the final 1-0, Fousiya’s heroics in goal were well appreciated.
Fousiya entered the world of sports through handball while studying at Nadakkavu Girls School. Fousiya has an impressive resume as a player. She was a state champion in weightlifting, had finished third in power lifting in south India, was a member of the state handball team, secured bronze medal in judo in state level besides being a member of the state hockey and volleyball teams.
In 2003, she took charge as the football team coach at Nadakkavu Girls Higher Secondary School. The same year, four students from Kozhikode were included in the state team. She was the coach of the Kozhikode team that finished runners up from 2005 to 2007 in sub junior and junior categories.
Under Fousiya’s coaching, Kerala finished third in the national senior women’s football tournament held in Manipur in 2005. She was the assistant coach of Kerala women’s football team that finished second in the national senior championship held in Odisha in 2006.
