Master of ‘vocal tonic’ PK Banerjee passes away

Legendary footballer PK Banerjee breathed his last on Friday in a

hospital

in Kolkata after battling a prolonged illness. He was 83. Banerjee is survived by daughters

Paula

and Purna, who are renowned academicians, and younger brother footballer-turned-politician

Prasun Banerjee

.
CT spotted PK Banerjee last in

maidan

during Ajay Devgn’s Kolkata-leg shooting of Maidan, a film based on

Syed Abdul Rahim

. Banerjee was a part of the team coached by Syed Abdul Rahim. One of the earliest recipients of the Arjuna Award, Banerjee himself also coached the national team from 1972 to 1986.


The 1962 Asian Games gold-medallist, whose best days as a striker coincided with Indian football's golden era, was suffering from respiratory problems due to pneumonia.



He was on life support at a hospital here since March 2 and breathed his last at 12:40 pm, according to a family member.