 Born in Mumbai to a family of tailors, Bandya Kakade was more interested in football and tennis than studies during his schooldays.He played for a local team, Friends XI, before progressing to the Central Railways club and then, in 1966, to Mafatlal SC.He played for the Indian junior team in 1964 and spent nearly 20 years as goalkeeper with Tata Sports Club from 1970, where he replaced S. S. Narayan.