Zakaria Pintoo, the legendary captain of the Swadhin Bangla football team, passed away yesterday at the age of 81, leaving behind a legacy that transcends the boundaries of sport and resonates with a nation's history.

When Pintoo made a bold but heartfelt claim, saying that "I am luckier than Pele," he was not boasting about his skills on the pitch but about his unparalleled role in history. While the Brazilian icon dazzled with goals, Pintoo led a team that fought for a nation's freedom.

"There is no other football team in the world like the Swadhin Bangla football team. In that sense, I am luckier than Pele," Pintoo had said in interviews with local media.

From July 25 in 1971 until the war's end, the Swadhin Bangla football team played across India to rally support for Bangladesh's liberation, using football as their weapon in the struggle for independence.

As captain of the team, Pintoo had the distinction of being the first to raise Bangladesh's flag on foreign soil, a powerful act of defiance against oppression. Under his leadership, the team played 16 matches, winning 12, drawing three, and losing just one.

Their victories were not just on the field; they raised fund for the government-in-exile and garnered international attention for Bangladesh's freedom struggle through newspaper and radio coverage.

Pintoo's influence reached beyond 1971.

Born in Naogaon in 1943, he was a distinguished footballer before independence, representing the Pakistan national team and captaining East Pakistan's side. His leadership skills earned him the National Sports Award in 1978 and the Independence Award in 1995, cementing his status as a national icon.

"His contributions to our nation's independence and football legacy will never be forgotten," Bangladesh Football Federation said in its tribute to Pintoo's enduring legacy.

Suffering from heart, kidney, and liver complications, Pintoo was admitted to Ibn Sina Hospital on Sunday, the day before he breathed his last in the ICU at 11:45 am. Survived by a son and three daughters, his legacy will continue to inspire generations.

Zakaria Pintoo's story -- a tale of courage, leadership, and an unwavering belief in freedom -- shows that football, and sports in general, are forces capable of shaping history, with the power to unite and inspire during the darkest of times.