Karunakaran .N.T. (Late).

Founder member of the Football Friend Free Coaching Centre (FFFCC) in Kannur - (Kerala). A World War II veteran, Karunakaran was a former player of Kolkata Mohammedans Sporting football club.  He was a formidable midfielder of Army Team and Mohammedans.

He settled in Kannur after retirement from the army in 1946 and devoted his life for grooming young football talents in north Malabar. He and veteran footballer K Kunhiraman founded FFFCC, cradle of many famous footballers in Malabar. Karunakaran served as convener of the centre. 

The acclaimed centre continues to provide free football training for children. He was also the publisher of ‘Football Friend’, a magazine of the centre. He played a key role in founding the Spirited Youths football club in Kannur.