Mohun Bagan recommends Samar Banerjee`s name for Padma Shri

Kolkata: Mohun Bagan have recommended former India captain Samar `Badru` Banerjee for the Padma Shri award.

Mohun Bagan have sent the recommendation to the President Pranab Mukherjee, Union Sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal and to the AIFF president Praful Patel. "We`ve proposed his name for conferring the prestigious Award for his excellence and contribution to football," Mohun Bagan stated in a release. Popularly known as Badru Banerjee, he captained India at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics where they finished fourth, their best finish ever. Banerjee had an illustrious career for Mohun Bagan since 1952 and won his first major title, Durand Cup in 1953 and scored the winner against Hyderabad Police in their 2-1 win. He also won the the IFA League and IFA Shield in 1954, in 1955 they won the Rovers Cup and again in 1956 won the Shield.