kolkata grey showery monsoon afternoon years ago lokenath banerjee big tryst celebrity linesman football equalise eden gardens persist etched collective memory football fans banerjee manned sidelines historic mohun bagan versus cosmos friction match saw legendary pele action among lucky witnessed genius ball handshake distance momentous day remains etched failing memory later banerjee recalls pele brilliance relate run soggy slippy ground displayed brilliance looked royal calm edward d white tee shirt touched chunk could image none pele due conditions however could much express flashes fabled skill barring one occasion almost scored goal said banerjee left immobilized brain stroke last frame multiple photographs pele taken day banerjee recalled pele open goal front tap ball bagan goalkeeper shibaji banerjee dived feet save goal pele could easily gone shot realized shibaji could hurt withdrew foot almost lakh waiting grudge pele chose risk injury shibaji noticed gesture realized great player corking human advantageously said regrets regular though among equalise officials could shake custody pele time fling jostle get close legend photograph banerjee managed make couple frames remain lifelong treasure unfortunately party couple cosmos mohun bagan teams attended invited despite watching conclusion one match officials lost chance shingle hands still cherish memories said match telecast live banerjee tv home plate mother eager see son play set off historic match would watch neighbor place insisted grease ones palms tv could watch match home kept request family watched match family match played hard good spirit remembers mohun bagan realise penalty referee ln ghosh chose award consistence friendly spirit up match mohun bagan players shake up cosmos clearly superior team match never reached high standard referable heavy underfoot conditions still privilege part history added banerjee