PK Banerjee was a player- friendly coach: Debashish Roy

Our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: Former international footballer Debashish Roy said that the death of football legend PK Banerjee is a great loss to Indian football. The void that has been created on his death would never be repaired, he added.

Banerjee, a two-time Olympian, died at a hospital in Kolkata today after battling a chest infection for a prolonged period of time. He was 83.

Roy, who played under PK Banerjee’s coaching for big clubs of Kolkata and also in the Bengal team, looked very dejected on receiving the news. Talking to The Sentinel in the city today Roy said: “He was a great coach. He always tried to inspire footballers with his nice behavior and famous ‘vocal tonic’. His inspirational quotes and anecdotes.were simply superb and it motivated the players instantly.”

Recalling him Roy added: “I was perhaps at the Gauhati Town Club when I first saw Banerjee coach an outfit of Kolkata. I was very much impressed and hoped that one day he will be my coach. My dream was fulfilled when I moved to Kolkata where I played in all the three big clubs and during my stint with Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, I got the opportunity to play under his coaching. He was my coach on a couple of occasions when I turned out for Bengal in the Santosh Trophy.”

The former highest-paid footballer of Kolkata Maidan also added: “PK was a very player- friendly coach. He was a terrific tactical coach and was apt at bringing out the best from a player. Whenever we played any competition outside Kolkata, PK took the role of our father. There was not a single day I remember, when my former coach took his dinner before all the players of the team finished their meal and returned to their rooms during our stay outside Kolkata.”

Also Read: Legendary footballer PK Banerjee passes away in Kolkata hospital

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