Such a long journey
An Oscar for lifetime achievement may be a regular happening
in the film world but in soccer it is a rarity occurring once
in a century. With the world governing body of the sport --
FIFA -- turning 100 last year, the idea of awarding “the
centennial order of merit'' was befittingly mooted and the
recipients chosen quite eclectically from nations that play
the game. Finding the greatest footballer for the award may
have posed problems for FIFA in some countries but the exercise
in the Indian context apparently was solved by the presence
of versatile Pradip Kumar (P.K) Banerjee. TWF correspondent
Kushal Chakrabarti in conversation with PK after the conferment
of the award by none other than the Prime Minister
The star forward of the '50s and ‘60s, who switched
to coaching after hanging his boots, was the foremost goal-getters
in his time. The same strain continued in his coaching as
he guided both the national and the club teams into the habit
of winning. Complementing his genius as a footballer who succeeded
during the golden era of Indian soccer, P.K. employed methods
as extraordinary even in his coaching tenure. He could claim
a patent for the ``vocal tonic'' -- the very first instance
of psychological motivation -- which spurred the men under
his tutelage perform amazing feats. P.K, recently bestowed
with the task of overseeing the national junior teams, is
a unique personality who has adjusted to the changes with
distinction completing 50 active years in soccer. The “FIFA
Centennial Order of Merit'' may be the latest in an unending
list of awards, which have been flowing in ever since he took
the game at the tender age of 12, but at the core he still
retains the fire and the youthful zeal to do something new.
Interestingly, he took to athletics and football simultaneously
starting his sporting career with Sankchi Athletic Club in
Jamshedpur in the early '50s. P.K. never played for any of
the big clubs, like East Bengal or Mohun Bagan, in Kolkata
Maidan but became one of the greatest stars of Indian Soccer.
He performed brilliantly for national team while also captaining
in several tournaments including Olympics. As a coach he was
instrumental in fetching the country's last Asian Games soccer
medal -- a bronze -- in 1970. A voracious reader, a philanthropist,
a great orator combining humour and satire, Banerjee has the
ability to communicate with equal felicity in different languages.
Excerpts from an interview:
During your illustrious career you have received innumerable
awards. How do you rate this one?
It surely is an unprecedented incident in my life. It really
feels great that FIFA chose me for the award though there
were many other great players who donned the Indian jersey
and also played for the big clubs in the half a century I
have been associated with the game. I think the world body
must have got the true records of my national and international
performances and that prompted them to choose me for the award.
When it comes to picking the best player of a century, there
will be controversies as a few may disagree on the names but
that happens for all. Even a preeminent personality like Sachin
Tendulkar is also not out of that, I must say. For me the
award is quite satisfying. I have played football with the
best of my ability and with utmost sincerity. For me this
award is quite inspiring, it gives me impetus to do something
for the development of soccer of this country.
At the time of receiving the prize from the Prime Minister
whose picture came to your mind first?
I have always said that I always felt the absence of my late
wife, Arati, who was my constant inspiration. My two daughters
are also very close to me but Arati was simply great. During
40 years of our togetherness she sacrificed everything for
me. She always extended her best possible support to my all
efforts. My mother helped me see the light of the day while
my wife gave me the power to see the true light of the world.
I am also indebted to my grandmother, who had initially inspired
me into sports while my Father instilled in me the knack for
football.
Having come such a long distance and receiving so much
accolades, can you still recollect the days in your first
club -- the Sankchi Athletic Club?
Yes, I can still remember that I started off as a sprinter
in that club. And also the names of my first coaches like
Nilu da, Sailesh da, who helped me improve both my athletic
abilities and footballing skills. I was a good sprinter and
easily beat all those who challenged me. Later on I adapted
this ability into my game.
I also had a part of my upbringing in North Bengal, where
I played football with Rajbanshi (a tribe) boys. As we could
not afford leather balls we used shaddocks to play football.
The oddly made rubber balls lost shape easily as I put lot
of power in my shot and had to resort to those big fruits
abundantly available there. We were impulsive footballers
and ignored the pain of kicking those hard-skinned shaddocks,
which greatly helped in developing toughness.
Who do you think has got the greatest effect on your footballing
career?
When I started playing the game, my father gave me a book
on the great English footballer Stanely Mathews. The book
appraised me with the concept of a winger in which Mathews
excelled. I liked that position and adapted myself to that
while making the Englishman my idol. Later in my career when
I visited Birmingham, I was thrilled to find his statue and
I offered my salutes to him.
What is your opinion regarding future of Indian soccer?
As the society changes, so does the concept and mechanics
of playing any games. In our days, the approach was amateurish.
Now a days everyone plays for materialistic benefits. It is
money that is driving everything. You see how cricketers are
treated as demigods. The more they earn the greater is the
interest about them. In order to bring life into football,
you have to infuse the concept of pecuniary benefits. Along
with this there is the urgent need for a national policy that
would look into the physical shape-up of the players as football
is a body contact game and it needs a good physique to prosper
in the international arena. I sincerely feel that a definite
Government aided programme that looks in developing the general
health of the masses can only bring about the requisite change
in the physical attributes of our countrymen. We are proud
of our engineers, doctors and the scientists but to make the
country flourish in sports, especially, football the health
policy needs an alteration and a sincere implementation. All
the develpoed nations have this. I am an optimistic person
and always believe that is sunlight after every night. Hence,
I am hopeful about the change I talked about.
What is your suggestion to the player who play the game
today?
I think sportsman spirit is the greatest part of the game.
Please play fair and do not take the illegitimate routes to
enhance your physical strength. Doping is a scourge now. I
always advice my players to go for exercise to improve physical
abilities and never adopt the shortcuts through drugs or other
illegal ways. As a sportsman you are responsible to the society
and however the great player you may be people will always
judge by your fairness and sincerity. I have always practiced
this in my life. You may be aware of the incident in the 1960
Santosh Trophy, where I did not score a goal during a league
match as the opponent goalkeeper was lying injured in front
of an empty goal. I stopped and urged to arrange for his treatment
instead. I was severely rebuked by my team management for
this act as my team, Railways, bowed out early in the tournament.
I have received several prizes for fair play in my career.
What are your plans now?
I am always ready to serve the country for any purpose. I
have always responded positively all the requests of our football
administrators. I will be glad to give my best efforts to
the development of soccer in the country. In order to put
Indian football on the international map, you need to plan
properly and I am ready to put myself in any position to realise
this goal. To cut long story short, I have dedicated my life
to soccer and am ready to spend the rest of my life working
for its development.
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