New Delhi [India], May 12 (ANI): June 23, the start anniversary of Pradip Kumar Banerjee, India’s captain in 1960 Rome Olympics and popularly referred to as PK, will henceforth be celebrated as ‘AIFF Grassroots Day’, All India Football Federation introduced on Friday.
Explaining the rationale behind selecting PK’s start anniversary, AIFF Secretary General Shaji Prabhakaran stated it’s a well-known proven fact that PK was an exemplary footballer, who performed a pivotal function in India’s historic gold medal end within the 1962 Asian Games.
“However, we often forget Pradip da was a teacher par excellence too. Once he hung up his boots, he took up coaching and for the next 30 years, produced an array of players, who excelled at the National and International levels. While his role as a National and a club coach is much discussed, the Indian football fraternity cannot forget PK da’s contribution at the grassroots level, his leadership at the Tata Football Academy, his ability to inspire and fine-tune the budding talents whenever with the junior National teams.”In 1969, when FIFA ran its first teaching course in Japan underneath German coach Dettmar Cramer, referred to as the ‘Football Professor’ within the worldwide circuit, PK enrolled himself for the course and returned dwelling with a First-Class diploma. Among many firsts, he achieved as a coach was a soccer teaching course he ran on Doordarshan for a lot of weeks.
A launch stated that AIFF Grassroots Day is in protecting according to the Strategic Roadmap ‘Vision 2047’, which seeks to extend grassroots participation within the nation.
It stated the intention is to interact 35 million kids in soccer by 2026 and as much as 100 million by 2047. The Federation has introduced the Blue Cubs programme which can collaborate with NGOs, colleges, golf equipment, academies in addition to numerous different stakeholders to increase the grassroots ecosystem.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey paid homage to PK Banerjee whereas asserting the AIFF Grassroots Day and stated the Federation would try to honour his reminiscence by guaranteeing the fixed development of the sport.
“No words I use will be enough to honour Pradip da’s contribution to Indian Football,” he stated. “He deserves all our appreciation. There are a rare few like him, a great player, a great mentor and a great coach who was filled with passion and always wanted to see Indian Football rise. Celebrating his birthday as grassroots day is a tribute from our end to recognise his contribution to the game.”Prabhakaran emphasised its significance to the Blue Cubs programme itself. “We need extra kids to participate within the sport and the Blue Cubs venture is keyed in direction of growing participation on the grassroots degree.
“That in itself will also be another way for us to honour the legend PK Banerjee. It is perfect to celebrate grassroots day on his birthday because his contribution to Indian Football is huge. In this way, we will recognize his contribution to Indian Football as well as grow football at the grassroots, create a vibrant culture and develop a good ecosystem for the sport in India.”Born on June 23, 1936 in Jalpaiguri, Banerjee is broadly considered certainly one of India’s best footballers and was India’s highest goalscorer with 4 objectives en path to Gold Medal in 1962 Asian Games. In a glittering worldwide profession,Banerjee performed two Olympics (1956, 1960) and three Asian Games (1958, 1962, 1966) and was the primary footballer to obtain the celebrated Arjuna Award within the yr of its inception, 1961. He was conferred with Padma Shri in 1990. He handed away on March 20, 2020, in Kolkata. (ANI)