Kolkata, India, March 20, 2020: Legendary Indian footballer PK Banerjee passed away in Kolkata on Friday, March 20. He was 83, The Hindu reports.
Banerjee led India at the 1960 Rome Olympics where he scored against a formidable French team in a 1-1 draw.
Before that he had also represented India at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and played a key role in their 4-2 win over Australia in the quarterfinals.
Pradip Kumar “PK” Banerjee was considered one of the greatest footballers to have played for India during its golden era.
At a time when football was mostly played in the five-forward system, PK excelled both as a right-winger and a centre forward showing a rare disposition of speed, skill and power. This could be gauged from the fact that he scored 65 goals in 84 matches for the national team.
Popularly known by his initials, PK strode the map of Indian football like a colossus with his multifaceted talents. He enriched the sport as a player, coach, administrator and commentator – all these hats he wore with distinction, at different times in his long association with football.
He also played in three Asian Games from 1958-1966, winning the gold medal in Jakarta in 1962 by beating South Korea 2-1 in the final.
Banerjee’s contribution to Indian football was duly recognised by the world governing body FIFA, which awarded him the Centennial Order of Merit in 2004.
Banerjee was admitted to hospital on February 6 with a chest infection and his health had been fluctuating since.