Mariappa Kempaiah

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.

• Apart from football, Mariappa had a passion for boxing and running.

• 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 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.

  

• His biography ”Olympian M. Kempaiah – Biography of Legendary Midfielder of Indian Football” was launched on 25 January 2024 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha.

  

• 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.