Gabriel Kara Neto, sports educator, dies at 80

Professor Gabriel Kara Neto, a prominent figure in the sports history of Paraná and Mato Grosso, has passed away at the age of 80 in Novo Horizonte do Norte, MT, following treatment for cancer.

Kara Neto was a pioneer in physical education in Maringá, contributing to the establishment of the course at the State University of Maringá (UEM). He taught at several state schools, most notably at Colégio Duque de Caxias, where he led a successful student-led campaign to fund the construction of a sports court.

His professional legacy includes training notable athletes and professionals, as well as serving as the physical trainer for Grêmio de Esportes Maringá during their 1977 Paranaense Championship victory. In the 1980s, he moved to Mato Grosso to help found the community of Novo Horizonte do Norte.