Bhasi Malaparamba, sports journalist and novelist, passed away, aged 85. Though he was an engineer by profession and he worked in the PWD, he was better known for his coverage of several football World Cups as a freelance journalist.

He reported eight World Cups, between 1982 and 2010, as well as the European Championship in 2008. He also published several novels in Malayalam. He was a competitive footballer who represented Kozhikode district.

Bhasi’s was a friendly presence in the sporting and cultural spheres of Kozhikode. Until he fell, he would attend most of the football matches held in the city, even when he was not on a reporting assignment.

Bhasi’s contribution to Malayalam sports journalism as a knowledgeable football writer was significant, especially in the pre-Internet era.