Banerjee: From magic touches on field to vocal tonics off it

As player and coach, Pradip Kumar Banerjee or PK Banerjee, was a rare breed among footballers. On the Indian football map, he was a pioneer in many ways than one hurtling the sport in the country to newer heights during a glittering career on and off the pitch.

Remembered for his famous equaliser against formidable France in the 1960 summer Olympics and his exploits at the 1962 Asian Games where India won gold to his man-management skills as coach of traditional giants East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and the national team; Banerjee leaves behind a legacy Indian football can never forget.

Born in Jalpaiguri, which is one of the major towns of the northern part of West Bengal, Banerjee completed his school education in Jamshedpur and broke into national reckoning when he donned the Bihar jersey in the Santosh Trophy.

His exploits down the flanks caught the selectors’ eye and not before long he was included in the national squad for the 1955 Quadrangular Tournament in Dhaka.  India ran out winners in the competition, defeating Pakistan 2-1 in the final but more importantly India got two of its finest players in Banerjee and Peter Thangaraj.

There was no looking back for Banerjee from there onwards as he was picked for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics where he played a key role in their 4-2 win over Australia in the quarterfinals with two assists.

It remains one of India’s finest performances as they crashed out of the competition after losing to Yugoslavia in the semi-final and Bulgaria in the third-place tie. The 1960 Olympics was all about Banerjee’s equalising goal against France as India pulled off a shock 1-1 draw against their more fancied opponents.

It was a poor meet for India as they finished last in a four-member group but Banerjee’s effort made everyone believe that the team can fight against the best.

It was the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta which is considered the highest point of Banerjee’s career as a player. He was not only instrumental in helping India win gold, he formed a deadly partnership with Chuni Goswami and Tulsidas Balaram.

Indo-Asian News Service