Gostha Pal leads race to replace ‘Football-Man’

Kolkata: Legendary Indian footballer Gostha Behari Pal has emerged as the frontrunner to replace the recently demolished ‘Football-Man' installation outside the Salt Lake stadium.State sports and youth affairs minister Nisith Pramanik indicated that discussions were underway and that Pal remains the leading choice, although another legendary footballer could also be considered. "In all likelihood, we will install a statue of Gostha Pal in the place where that ugly statue stood," he said.Known as the ‘Chinese Wall' for his formidable defensive abilities, Pal occupies a towering place in Indian football history. He was the first captain of the Indian national team and spent his entire club career playing barefoot for Mohun Bagan, cementing his legacy as one of the sport's early icons.Interestingly, Kolkata already has a life-size bronze statue of Gostha Pal, opposite the Eden Gardens stadium.The Football-Man structure, installed ahead of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, was dismantled between Friday night and Saturday morning.