Roads and stadiums will be named after Datta: Mamata

Roads and stadiums in the city will be named after former football greats like Amal Datta, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said as the 'diamond coach' was given a state funeral here today.
"He was our pride. The loss is irreparable. We will name streets and the upcoming stadiums after greats like Datta and Sailen Manna," Mamata announced while paying her last homage to Dutta at the Rabindra Sadan.
Datta's body was kept at Rabindra Sadan before being taken to his former clubs East Bengal and Mohun Bagan in his last journey as hundreds of football fans gathered to pay their last tributes.

Suffering from Alzheimer's disease and age-related illness, Datta, who was the country's first professional coach, was bedridden for several months and passed away near Baguiati last evening.
Paying rich tributes to Datta, Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia said, "I was fortunate enough to meet him quite a number of times and was amazed to see how he kept talking about strategies."
Among his many tactical innovations was the famous diamond formation in 1997 when a marauding Mohun Bagan routed Churchill Brothers 6-0 before taking on PK Banerjee coached East Bengal on July 13, 1997 in the Federation Cup semifinal.

Amid the hype over diamond formation, there was the verbal duel between the two coaches -- and former teammates -- that saw a record turnout of more than 1.20 lakh.

As fate would have it, Bhutia struck a hat-trick in that match to lead East Bengal to a famous 4-1 win that led to Datta's ouster.
Despite their verbal duel of the past, 80-year-old
Banerjee went on to share a great camaraderie with Datta, whom he considered a true fighter and a guide.
"He was trying to demoralise us before the game. He called Bhaichung (Bhutia) 'Chung Chung' but that did not affect me. I did not give in to his taunts.
"Amal da was my senior. We played together also. He even used to abuse me when I could not play well. But then we got along well off the pitch. I've lost a great friend and guide, that's making me sick," Banerjee said.

Hailing him as a pioneer, former footballer Chuni Goswami said, "He has produced many greats. He was a man devoted to football. He always wanted to do something differently.
"It's a great loss for Indian football," Goswami, who started his career in 1954, three years before Datta hung up his playing boots, said.
"No other coach or player was more informed about modern football. It's sad that Indian football has never been able to appreciate his value as a coach," said Subrata Bhattacharya, who had a long career as stopper-back before winning two National Football League titles as Mohun Bagan coach.

Terming him a 'visionary', former India midfielder Satyajit Chatterjee gave Datta the full credit for him becoming a better footballer.
"Had I not come in touch with him, I would not have become a complete footballer. I was a newcomer at that time. But I provided the pass for the only goal which helped Mohun Bagan win the Durand Cup (1985)," the former Mohun Bagan captain recalled.
Datta, who played as a midfielder for East Bengal from 1953 to 1956, represented India against Pakistan at the Quadrangular meet in Rangoon in 1953.
He was also in the Indian squad for the 1954 Asian Games and went to England for an FA coaching course after giving up his boots.

On returning to India, he gave up his Railway job and became a professional coach in 1960, a first in India.
His coaching career for India spanned from 1987-1988, during which the country played in the SAF Games here and Nehru Cup in Siliguri.