Yogendran Duckson Puslas (4 April 1990 – 26 February 2022) was a Sri Lankan professional footballer who played as a defender for TC Sports Club and Sri Lanka national team. He was recognised as one of the stalwarts of Sri Lankan defence line-up.[1]

Duckson Puslas
Personal information
Full name Yogendran Duckson Puslas
Date of birth (1990-04-04)4 April 1990
Place of birth Mannar, Sri Lanka
Date of death 26 February 2022(2022-02-26) (aged 31)
Place of death Maldives
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
New Youngs
Colombo FC
0000–2020 New Youngs
2020–2021 TC Sports Club
2021–2022 Club Valencia
International career
2018–2021 Sri Lanka 21 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

edit

In 2020, Puslas signed for Maldivian side TC Sports Club.[2] Later, he received a contract to play for Maldivian Club Valencia ahead of the 2021–22 season.[1]

He was included in the Sri Lankan squad which competed at the 2021 SAFF Championship. [3] Duckson played an influential role in Sri Lanka's 0–0 goalless draw against India during the 2021 SAFF Championship group stage match which also ended Sri Lanka's losing streak against India after a long gap of 18 years. He was awarded the player of the match for his contributions which led to a goalless draw.[4] He was an integral member of the Sri Lankan team which emerged as runner-up to Seychelles in the final of the 2021 Four Nations Football Tournament which was held in Sri Lanka where Seychelles emerged victorious in penalty shootout.[5][6]

Prior to his untimely death, he was playing for Club Valencia in the Dhivehi Premier League. However, he was not included in the Valencia lineup in a group stage match which was held on 26 February 2022 (the death took place on the same day) in the 2020–21 Dhivehi Premier League due to sustaining injuries.[7][8]

Personal life and death

edit

Puslas died on 26 February 2022, at the age of 31.[9] He was found dead in his apartment during his stay in Maldives.[7] His cause of death is speculated to be a suicide but the cause of his death is yet to be determined and yet to be confirmed by the officials as it is largely unknown.[10]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Duckson Puslas, the Heart of SL Defence, Dies in Maldives". CeylonToday. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Profile". playmakertstats.com.
  3. ^ "Sri Lanka squad for SAFF Championship 2021 announced". ThePapare.com. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  4. ^ "SAFF football in Male: Golden Army draw game against mighty India". The Morning - Sri Lanka News. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  5. ^ Wijewickrama, Navod (19 November 2021). "Seychelles' epic comeback stuns Sri Lanka". ThePapare.com. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  6. ^ "Seychelles' national football team wins four-nation tournament in Sri Lanka". www.seychellesnewsagency.com. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Sri Lankan footballer Duckson Puslas found dead in Maldives - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Sri Lanka : Sri Lankan footballer Duckson Puslas found dead in the Maldives". www.colombopage.com. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Sri Lankan footballer Duckson Puslas found dead in Maldives". Adaderana. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Duckson Puslas no more: Possibility of suicide behind cause of death". The Morning - Sri Lanka News. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
edit