Mariappa Kempaiah Age, Death, Family, Biography

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Caste: Backward Class

Age: 76 Years

Hometown: Bangalore

Bio/Wiki
Nickname	Kempiah Da
Profession	Footballer
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	5' 4½" (164 cm)
Weight (approx.)	62 Kg (136 lbs)
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Black
Football
Professional Debut	1953 for India (against Sri Lanka)
Jersey Number	#4 (India)
Club(s)	• Bangalore Muslims (1950–1956) • East Bengal (1956–1957) • Mohun Bagan (1957–1965)
Position	Midfielder
Awards, Honours	• Best Wing Half Award (1962) • Honored by the Karnataka chief minister for his achievement in sports (1968) • Award from the Karnataka Football Association (1983) • Sportsman of the Millennium (2000) • Mohun Bagan Ratna (2003)
Personal Life
Date of Birth	4 March 1932 (Friday)
Birthplace	Bangalore, Kingdom of Mysore, British India (now Bengaluru, Karnataka, India)
Date of Death	2 July 2008
Place of Death	Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Age (at the time of death)	76 Years
Death Cause	Prolonged illness (Diabetes)
Zodiac sign	Pisces
Nationality	• British Indian (1932-1947) • Indian (1947 onwards)
Hometown	Bangalore
School	St. Joseph's Boys' High School, Bangalore
Caste	Backward Class
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Married
Family
Children	Son- 1 Daughter- 2

Some Lesser Known Facts About Mariappa Kempaiah

Mariappa was considered one of India’s best midfielders and was known for his fitness, work rate, and commitment.

Mariappa was discovered by the national team coach Syed Abdul Rahim while he was playing for Mysore in the 1954 Santosh Trophy.

Mariappa played for India regularly from 1955 till 1964 and represented India in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics and Tokyo Asian Games in 1958.
Mariappa Kempaiah defending in a match

Mariappa never earned more than Rs. 7000 annually in his playing career and had limited resources until his death.

National team coach Syed Abdul Rahim always kept check on players’ fitness. Still, Mariappa’s fitness never concerned him as he was always sure about it and would put his name in the playing eleven before anyone else.

National team coach Harry Wright, appointed after Syed Abdul Rahim’s death, was so impressed by Mariappa’s fitness that he compared his fitness with the level of professional English players at that time.

Mariappa maintained a healthy lifestyle throughout his playing career and always took great care of his diet.

Mariappa was part of the Indian football team that participated in the Summer Olympics of 1956 and secured 4th rank in the competition.

Mariappa played a vital role and helped India win over Australia in the quarterfinals of the 1956 Olympics; the score ended 4-2 in favour of India.

Mariappa helped the Mohun Bagan club win the Durand Cup title for 3 years in a row, from 1963 to 1965. Mohun Bagan became the first Indian club to achieve this accomplishment.

During his last years, Mariappa was unable to walk properly as he was suffering from diabetes.

The Mariappa Kempaiah football stadium was inaugurated on 27 October 2022 by the ‘AOC-in-C’ at Sainik School, Kodagu.
The Mariappa Kempaiah Football Stadium at Sainik School, Kodagu

His biography ”Olympian M. Kempaiah – Biography of Legendary Midfielder of Indian Football” was launched on 25 January 2024 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha.
Book cover page of Mariappa Kempaiah’s biography

Maidan, a Bollywood film released on 11 April 2024, is based on the life of an Indian football coach named Syed Abdul Rahim (portrayed by Ajay Devgn). The film highlights the achievements of the Indian national football team under his mentorship during the 1950s and early 1960s, an era often termed ‘the golden era of Indian football.’ Many Indian footballers, including Mariappa Kempaiah, were part of these achievements.
Maidaan film poster