XtraTime Web Desk: A statue of legendary footballer Pradip Kumar Banerjee will be installed in front of his Salt Lake residence, announced Mr Sujit Bose, Minister in Charge, West Bengal Fire Services on Tuesday on the occasion of 84th birth celebrations of the late footballer. In fact there will be two statues; the other one will be installed at Lake Town.
Reacting to the decision, Pradip Banerjee’s brother Prasun Banerjee said, “Sujit (Bose) is a gem of a person. He is a golden boy. He promised at the burning ghat that he will erect two statues in the honour of my brother. It speaks immensely about his love for the sports.”
Prasun Banerjee did not wish to celebrate his late brother’s birthday. But requests from various football schools of the city convinced him to change his mind. The Arjuna awardee footballer is still in grief about losing his beloved brother who died on March 20, 2020.
According to Prasun, “Initially I didn’t want to celebrate my brother’s birthday. But few football schools requested me to celebrate his birthday as it has turned out an annual celebration. So, I was forced to change my mind.”
The footballer turned MP also announced that a trustee board will be formed soon and will include both the daughter’s of PK Banerjee.
“I am taking all steps so as to ensure there is no dirty politics surrounding my brother’s name. We will be forming a Board of Trustees which will also have Pala and Pixie. You cannot have a rubber ball tournament in the name of my late brother. Whoever wish to organize a tournament in the name of my brother needs to have the permission of the trustee board to do so.”
Prasun also announced, “We will soon start two football schools in the name of my beloved brother. It will be situated in Howrah and will be named PK Prasun Football Coaching Centre. The other school will be at Salt Lake. It will be named after my brother and his late wife Arati.”
It was also decided that the medicated bed worth 1.5 lakhs rupees will be donated to a state hospital.
“The bed will be used for only sportspersons of the state,” said Prasun Banerjee.