Will remember PK as Guardian Angel of Indian football, says his pupil Bhutia

The legendary player died in Kolkata on Friday after battling prolonged illness. He was 83. Tributes poured in from all quarters after the announcement of his death. Bhutia, one of Banerjee’s brightest disciples, recalled the days he learned under his tutelage. “He was not only a good player and coach, but also a great human being,” Bhutia wrote in his column for All India Football Federation (AIFF).

“Off the pitch, he would always give us guidance on how to conduct ourselves. He taught us how to stay humble even when we got all the media attention that came with playing at the top level at the Kolkata Maidan.” During his coaching days, the teachings of Banerjee went beyond football.

“He would teach us life lessons. He was more of a guardian angel than coach for us. And all of that helped us become dedicated footballers and better human beings as well,” wrote Bhutia. He recalled memories of his playing days under Banerjee, especially the famous 1997 Federation Cup derby between traditional rivals East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.

“One particular instance I clearly recall is the 1997 Federation Cup semi-final between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan at the Salt Lake Stadium. There was a lot of hype around the match. However, PK-da, in his inimitable way, took the pressure off our shoulders. As a youngster, it wasn’t easy playing in front of a 1 lakh crowd. But, he shielded us from that pressure. He allowed us to have a clear mind on the day, as in all matches.”

Pumped up by Banerjee’s motivating words, Bhutia went on to score a hat-trick in that game and led East Bengal to a memorable 4-1 win. Bhutia noted that Banerjee as a coach had the ability to get the best out of his players. “I have played under the stewardship of a number of top coaches. But the coaches in the early part of your career are the ones that really end up shaping you as a professional football player. PK-da had just that effect on me.

“Back in the 90s, when I was young, there was no bigger name in Indian football than PK to learn from. Playing for a traditional club like East Bengal, we were already expected to have a certain level of technical ability. But not everyone was aware of how to use that ability to our advantage, and how to synchronise that with the rest of our teammates. All of that were taught to us by PK-da.”