Calcutta: Former Mohun Bagan and India goalkeeper Shibaji Banerjee passed away late on Sunday. Shibaji, 68, died after suffering a massive heart-attack. He is survived by wife and a son.

"It's shocking," said former Bagan defender and coach Subrata Bhattacharya. "I still can't believe it because I had met him just a few hours back at a programme in New Alipore.

"Things looked absolutely okay and now all of a sudden I hear Shibaji da is no more. I'm in a state of shock... Am just not in a position to talk," a saddened Bhattacharya added.

Gautam Sarkar, another former India footballer, said: "Shibaji was one of the best goalkeepers the country has ever produced...

"It's only a few hours back when I met him this evening, and just a minute earlier, I came to know that he's no more... Life's really strange," Sarkar said.

Starting his career with Howrah Union, Shibaji was at his peak during the period between 1977-85 when he represented Bagan. He saved Bagan in many a matches, especially in penalty shoot-outs.

He carved a special place for himself in Calcutta football after blocking Pele's free kick in the historic Bagan-Cosmos game on September 24, 1977.

Post retirement, he served as Calcutta Port Trust's sports officer and a member of Bagan's technical committee. He has also been a vice-president of the CAB.