Former captain Bhaichung Bhutia on Friday cited his “credibility”, “experience” and his cricket counterpart Sourav Ganguly to say he is “definitely the right person” to lead the All India team. India Football Federation (AIFF).
Both Bhutia and Ganguly are distinguished former captains of their respective games and while the cricketer was born and raised in Kolkata, the ace footballer shares a deep bond with the city, having played for Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. Spent so much time playing. His golden days
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Bhutia has once again entered the AIFF’s electoral circle even as former goalkeeper Kalyan Choubey, seen as the BJP candidate, emerged as the front runner for the top post. Both the former players filed their nominations on Thursday.
He said, ‘Whatever I have become today is only because of football. Because of this I am Padma Shri. I played for India for 16 years – this is my moment to give back to my game. With the restrictions being in place, it needs to be improved,” Bhutia said during an interaction.
I am not new to AIFF. I am working with the government and the sports ministry. The government is supporting all the players. Our Prime Minister is helping in the development of sports in India.
“I have experience, knowledge and plans for Indian football. I can do this. With so much negativity all around, we need reforms. Players are now getting motivated to get into administration.
A convicted player with over 100 international appearances, Bhutia said, “Look at Sourav Ganguly, he is an iconic cricketer and is doing so well in cricket administration.”
Bhutia praised Choubey’s eagerness to help the game get through its toughest times as administrator, but reiterated that he could do a “much better job”.
Giving an opportunity to run AIFF, he said that he would like to arrange for adequate funds for all state associations, to organize regular tournaments in all age groups, to establish football centers of excellence across the country, and Will try my best to use. Training facilities to develop trainers and conduct advanced courses for referees.
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He also said that regional languages should be included in the coaching programs so that those aspiring to become coaches are asked not to do so in English as they may not be proficient in it.
“I want to help the state associations financially, technically. We need both long-term and short-term goals.”
Although he once contested legislative elections and also formed a political party in his native state of Sikkim, Bhutia said that he does not belong to any major national party, and it could help him manage football administration better. Is.
He said, ‘Look, whenever there were big leaders, you used to hear one state saying that it belongs to my party, it belongs to another. But with me I can go to any state without any problem, as I am not affiliated to any major national political party.
“Our priority should be to prepare the players, we need to play” World Cup on merit and not only as hosts. We have to make sure that football is a winner.
“Let me and Kalyan sit and discuss, and the media can also be a part of it and then decide who is the better man to lead Indian football. Let’s not make this election political,” he said.
“Let’s not get involved in politics and destroy this beautiful game.”
To reinforce his belief that he is good at administration, Bhutia also cited his experience as a consultant in the Sikkim Football Association, besides running the United Sikkim club for nearly two decades.
One of the greatest players of the country, the 45-year-old concluded by saying, “I can change Indian football for good. I have credibility, I am capable. It’s definitely a challenge, but not impossible.”
Rajasthan Football Association president Manvendra Singh, a Congress politician and former Lok Sabha MP, is backing Bhutia’s candidature along with Andhra Pradesh FA president Gopalakrishna Kosaraju, who on Friday withdrew his nomination for the treasurer’s post in the AIFF elections.
Manvendra alleged that Karnataka FA chief NA Harris threatened Kosaraju to withdraw his candidature.
Both Manvendra and Kosaraju claimed that Harris also wants Telangana’s GP Palguna, who is also a former India player, to drop out of the race for the vice-president’s post.
Post-retirement Bhutia has been involved in several roles in football administration – from owning a club to becoming the president of the players’ union and even serving as the chairman of the AIFF’s technical committee in 2014. Before diving into politics before joining the Trinamool Congress. His own party, Hamro Sikkim, in 2018.
The election process is still underway while the AIFF awaits FIFA to lift the suspension imposed on the national body for violating its rules.
FIFA suspended the AIFF, citing the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators, alleging “undue influence” of third parties in the functioning of the Federation.
SC has since scrapped the CoA.
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