West Bengal’s PK Banerjee scored a historic goal in the Olympics!

The name of Pradeep Kumar Banerjee is included among the great football players and coaches of the country, who played an important role in winning the gold medal for India in the Asian Games 1962. PK Banerjee, honored with the ‘Arjuna Award’, is considered an inspiration for Indian football.

Born on 23 June 1936 in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, PK Banerjee’s family shifted to Jamshedpur before partition. Father Provat Banerjee was a government employee. The salary was not enough to support the family well. However, PK Banerjee continued playing sports along with his studies.

Meanwhile the family shifted to Calcutta. After some time, the father’s shadow disappeared from his mind. PK was the eldest among the siblings. In such a situation, the responsibilities of the family fell on him. However, PK faced the challenges bravely and did not leave football.

PK Banerjee often trained and played on an empty stomach. PK Banerjee was so adept at football that on the basis of this game, he got a job in a cable company at the age of just 15. PK Banerjee used to get Rs 135 per month. At the age of 17, he got the job of ticket collector in Indian Railways, in which he got two rupees more than his previous salary.

PK Banerjee was continuously impressing the selectors with his brilliant game. Joined Aryan Football Club in 1954 and Eastern Railway in 1955. Under his captaincy, this team became Football League champion in the year 1958.

PK Banerjee made his debut for India in the year 1955. On the basis of his brilliant play in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, India was successful in reaching the semi-finals. After this, PK Banerjee took command of the Indian team in the 1960 Rome Olympics. During this, he scored an important goal against France and made the match draw 1-1.

After about 2 years, PK Banerjee won the gold medal for India in the Asian Games on the basis of his best game. His brilliant strike partnership with Chuni Goswami and Tulsidas Balram was named the ‘Trimurti’.

PK Banerjee was awarded the ‘Arjuna Award’ in the year 1961 for his excellent performance in football. In the year 1967, he finally said goodbye to his sports career. By that time PK Banerjee had scored 65 goals in 84 international matches.

After retirement as a player, PK Banerjee took over the responsibility of coaching. He was named joint coach of the Indian team for the 1970 Asian Games. In the year 2004, he was awarded the ‘FIFA Order of Merit (Centenary)’. On March 20, 2020, PK Banerjee said goodbye to the world at the age of 83.