KOLKATA: Much ahead of Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ second stirred the soccer hobby within the area, it was once the Brazilian maestro. Pele who started Bengal’s tryst with the ‘gorgeous recreation’.
Playing towards Mohun Bagan on a slushy and jam-packed Eden Gardens on September 24, 1977 within the twilight of his profession, the three-time World Cup winner was once beaten by way of the intensity of ability a “little known” Indian membership possessed.
Desperately in quest of a revival after the dominance of arch-rivals East Bengal, the PK Banerjee-coached Mariners no longer most effective stopped the ‘King of Football’ from scoring a purpose, however virtually gained 2-1 ahead of a debatable penalty made it a 2-2 draw towards the star-studded New York Cosmos.
PK had given mid-fielder Gautam Sarkar the massive activity of man-marking Pele and taking part in within the dream fit of his existence, he had given it his all, one thing that was once later said by way of the legend himself.
In the night time, Mohun Bagan had arranged a felicitation rite for Pele the place he was once to be passed a diamond ring however the ‘Black Pearl’ was once extra fascinated by assembly the avid gamers first.
Goalkeeper Shibaji Banerjee was once the primary one within the listing.
When the identify of the 6th participant was once introduced, Pele, surrounded by way of a galaxy of folks, got here out of the barricade and hugged the participant.
“Sporting a wry smile he told me, ‘So, you are that number 14 who did not allow me to move…’ I was left awe-struck,” Sarkar remembered that night time vividly, even after 45 years.
“Chunida (Chuni Goswami) was there standing beside me on the dias and heard all this. He soon told me: ‘Gautam you now give up football — what’s there to achieve after hearing this compliment’. Indeed, this was the biggest achievement. of my football career.”
“I don’t want to boast about myself, but according to a newspaper report my photo is still hanging in the New York Cosmos club. He was so overwhelmed by our play that he wanted to meet the players first. Never thought a club team from a country like India would play like this.”
The exhibition fit may just see the sunshine of the day as a result of the initiative of Dhiren Dey, a respected soccer administrator at Kolkata Maidan, then on the helm of Mohun Bagan as the overall secretary.
“It seemed unreal when Dhirenda told us that Pele would play against us. We all told him to ‘stop lying, it’s unbelievable’. But as days passed and we got to know about it, we all had sleepless nights,” Sarkar informed PTI. .
Preparation started 3 weeks upfront and Mohun Bagan needed to turn out some degree.
“The prospect of playing against Pele was one of the reasons why I moved from East Bengal to Mohun Bagan. As it happened, it all changed our club’s fortune,” stated Shyam Thapa who famously gave Mohun Bagan the lead.
Four days later, Mohun Bagan have been to play towards East Bengal within the coveted IFA Shield ultimate and because it grew to become out, the Mariners gained 1-0, finishing their arch-rivals’ title- profitable streak.
“It was a platform for us to revive our fortunes. The result gave us much-needed confidence to face East Bengal. We found our mojo back,” well known Mohun Bagan defender Subrata Bhattacharya remembered.
They persevered their revival as they went directly to win the Rovers Cup and Durand Cup.
“We wanted to give everything in the field. The match helped us grow as a team,” stated then Mohun Bagan midfielder Prasun Banerjee, now a TMC member of Parliament.
The best possible probability for Pele to attain got here off a free-kick from the highest of the field. The ball rose and spun in against the left upright ahead of being stored by way of a diving Shibaji Banerjee.
Pele revisited the town seven years again right through the festive season of Durga Puja, this time with a strolling stick however his charisma had left everybody mesmerized, together with the town’s cricket icon Sourav Ganguly, a self-proclaimed Brazil fan.
“I’ve played three World Cups. There’s a big difference between being a winner and a runner-up. To hold that World Cup and a few Golden Boots must be phenomenal,” Ganguly stated in awe of the good guy on the felicitation rite on the Netaji Indoor Stadium.
Pele additionally reunited with the Mohun Bagan batch of 1977 together with the mythical PK, Subhash Bhowmick and Shibaji Banerjee who’re not more.
“I accepted to come here in India because I love the people here,” Pele stated.
The King of Football additionally had his humorousness intact and gave a cheeky answer when somebody within the dias requested him if there may well be any other Pele.
“Listen, I’m sorry. My father and my mother closed the machine. There will be no other Pele.”
His closing phrases ahead of signing off have been: “If I can help somehow, I’ll be here again.”
Playing towards Mohun Bagan on a slushy and jam-packed Eden Gardens on September 24, 1977 within the twilight of his profession, the three-time World Cup winner was once beaten by way of the intensity of ability a “little known” Indian membership possessed.
Desperately in quest of a revival after the dominance of arch-rivals East Bengal, the PK Banerjee-coached Mariners no longer most effective stopped the ‘King of Football’ from scoring a purpose, however virtually gained 2-1 ahead of a debatable penalty made it a 2-2 draw towards the star-studded New York Cosmos.
PK had given mid-fielder Gautam Sarkar the massive activity of man-marking Pele and taking part in within the dream fit of his existence, he had given it his all, one thing that was once later said by way of the legend himself.
In the night time, Mohun Bagan had arranged a felicitation rite for Pele the place he was once to be passed a diamond ring however the ‘Black Pearl’ was once extra fascinated by assembly the avid gamers first.
Goalkeeper Shibaji Banerjee was once the primary one within the listing.
When the identify of the 6th participant was once introduced, Pele, surrounded by way of a galaxy of folks, got here out of the barricade and hugged the participant.
“Sporting a wry smile he told me, ‘So, you are that number 14 who did not allow me to move…’ I was left awe-struck,” Sarkar remembered that night time vividly, even after 45 years.
“Chunida (Chuni Goswami) was there standing beside me on the dias and heard all this. He soon told me: ‘Gautam you now give up football — what’s there to achieve after hearing this compliment’. Indeed, this was the biggest achievement. of my football career.”
“I don’t want to boast about myself, but according to a newspaper report my photo is still hanging in the New York Cosmos club. He was so overwhelmed by our play that he wanted to meet the players first. Never thought a club team from a country like India would play like this.”
The exhibition fit may just see the sunshine of the day as a result of the initiative of Dhiren Dey, a respected soccer administrator at Kolkata Maidan, then on the helm of Mohun Bagan as the overall secretary.
“It seemed unreal when Dhirenda told us that Pele would play against us. We all told him to ‘stop lying, it’s unbelievable’. But as days passed and we got to know about it, we all had sleepless nights,” Sarkar informed PTI. .
Preparation started 3 weeks upfront and Mohun Bagan needed to turn out some degree.
“The prospect of playing against Pele was one of the reasons why I moved from East Bengal to Mohun Bagan. As it happened, it all changed our club’s fortune,” stated Shyam Thapa who famously gave Mohun Bagan the lead.
Four days later, Mohun Bagan have been to play towards East Bengal within the coveted IFA Shield ultimate and because it grew to become out, the Mariners gained 1-0, finishing their arch-rivals’ title- profitable streak.
“It was a platform for us to revive our fortunes. The result gave us much-needed confidence to face East Bengal. We found our mojo back,” well known Mohun Bagan defender Subrata Bhattacharya remembered.
They persevered their revival as they went directly to win the Rovers Cup and Durand Cup.
“We wanted to give everything in the field. The match helped us grow as a team,” stated then Mohun Bagan midfielder Prasun Banerjee, now a TMC member of Parliament.
The best possible probability for Pele to attain got here off a free-kick from the highest of the field. The ball rose and spun in against the left upright ahead of being stored by way of a diving Shibaji Banerjee.
Pele revisited the town seven years again right through the festive season of Durga Puja, this time with a strolling stick however his charisma had left everybody mesmerized, together with the town’s cricket icon Sourav Ganguly, a self-proclaimed Brazil fan.
“I’ve played three World Cups. There’s a big difference between being a winner and a runner-up. To hold that World Cup and a few Golden Boots must be phenomenal,” Ganguly stated in awe of the good guy on the felicitation rite on the Netaji Indoor Stadium.
Pele additionally reunited with the Mohun Bagan batch of 1977 together with the mythical PK, Subhash Bhowmick and Shibaji Banerjee who’re not more.
“I accepted to come here in India because I love the people here,” Pele stated.
The King of Football additionally had his humorousness intact and gave a cheeky answer when somebody within the dias requested him if there may well be any other Pele.
“Listen, I’m sorry. My father and my mother closed the machine. There will be no other Pele.”
His closing phrases ahead of signing off have been: “If I can help somehow, I’ll be here again.”