Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has extended his condolences to the family and friends of former India captain, head coach and Technical Director Pradip Kumar Banerjee, who passed away at the age of 83 on Friday, March 20, 2020, after bravely battling a prolonged illness.
Affectionately known to Indian football fans and stakeholders as PK Banerjee, the Indian icon was influential in guiding his side to the gold medal at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, scoring the Blue Tigers’ opener in the final against Korea Republic.
Regarded by many as a trailblazer in Indian football, he donned the national colours on 36 occasions, reaching his peak after steering the Blue Tigers to a fourth-place finish in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, before captaining them in the Rome Olympic Games four years later.
Off the pitch, he began his coaching career as the joint coach of the Indian national team in the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok, where India won a bronze medal, before leading them again at the 1974, 1982 and 1986 Asian Games.
He also served as India’s Technical Director for the SAFF Cup in 1999, where India won gold, the Olympic Qualifiers in 1999 and India’s tour of England in 2000.
The thoughts and prayers of the AFC and the rest of the Asian football community are with the family and friends of PK Banerjee, the All India Football Federation and the Indian football community during this difficult time.