For his fans he was no less than Maradona or Pelé, a man who carried the hopes and aspirations of the whole nation as far as football was concerned. His personality attracted everyone and his humility left people in awe. His smile was infectious, and when he ran with the Tricolour, the crowd would go wild with joy and admiration.
Bhaichung Bhutia was a treat to watch on the field. A blend of skill, class and consistency, Bhutia enriched the game with his impeccable ways.
But all good things come to an end, and so has the champion’s career. Bhutia has called it a day, leaving a big void in Indian football.
A tough decision
In his own words, quitting the game was an extremely hard decision, but his persistent injuries made him think again, and as time passed he took control of his emotions. “When I first thought of leaving football, it was quite difficult for me. But as time went by, I became more determined. One day everything has to end. You cannot go on playing for your whole lifetime. And anyway, I am not out of football completely and will still be very much involved with it through my club, United Sikkim FC, and my football academy in Delhi,” said the Sikkimese Sniper, as he is known in football circles.
“I had a fantastic 16 years of football. I have enjoyed every moment of my career and feel very lucky to have been able to play for the national side and also contribute to the betterment of the game,” added the former captain.
Bhaichung wanted the Asian Cup to be his last tournament, but he could not play his part in it because of injury. He therefore decided to play on and wait for the right time to hang up his boots. “I thought that was not the way to end a career, so I thought of carrying on. I tried to make comebacks but could not because of my recurring knee injury. I was dropped from the pre-World Cup qualifiers because of the injury. Then I was picked for the side that would play in the UK, but again I could not play because of the injury. So a certain level of frustration built up, and I thought it was time,” said an emotional Bhaichung, who first shot into the limelight at the 1992 Subroto Cup.
Early career
Playing in the Subroto Cup in Delhi, the Sikkimese player won the best player of the tournament award and was soon noticed by football officials. Bhaichung’s talent was spotted by Bhaskar Ganguly, a former India goalkeeper, and he joined East Bengal in 1993. He caught the imagination of football fans with a spectacular back volley in the semi-finals of the 1993 Durand Cup, which took the team into the final, and there was no looking back after that.
Bhaichung made rapid strides, and in 1994 he was the top scorer in the Kolkata first division with a healthy return of 14 goals, which also won him the best player award. In 1995 he moved to JCT, and with them he won the first National Football League in 1996-97. He also won the Golden Boot with 14 goals in 20 appearances. He won the Durand Cup, the Federation Cup and the IFA Shield with JCT, and these performances earned him his first India cap, against Uzbekistan in the 1995 Nehru Cup. He did not look back after that and went on to become the most decorated player in the history of Indian football.
An unfulfilled desire
However, the champion retires with one unfulfilled desire. “As an Indian footballer, I always wanted to play in the Asian Cup and the World Cup. The former happened, but the World Cup did not. That is the only regret I have. But I guess that is all right, because one does not always get what one desires,” said Bhaichung.
The ace striker, who is leaving the international arena, says his retirement will not affect his commitment to Indian football. “I will always remain committed to Indian football. I will be actively involved with United Sikkim and my football academy. I will continue to strive for the development of Indian football,” added the talismanic footballer.
A great future
Bhaichung is very positive and is sure there will be bigger names than him in Indian football. “I see a lot of talent, and there will definitely be players who are bigger than me. Indian football has put its right foot forward. I can see a great future for Indian football,” added the humble champion.
The 34-year-old striker, who has played with two generations of footballers, finds the new generation more disciplined and professional. He feels their commitment is commendable and will do wonders for Indian football in the future.
No favourites and no grievances
In his 16-year career he has played under a number of coaches and adapted to them well, but he ruled out having any favourites. “It is difficult to pick an individual. Under Bob Houghton we won three tournaments, and under Stephen Constantine we won the LG Cup. I can also never forget Rustam Akramov’s decision to move me up front as a striker from midfield. And under Sukhwinder Singh we had a wonderful run, when we missed out on qualification for the final round of the World Cup by a whisker. So I have had memorable moments under every coach I have played under,” added Bhaichung.
He has seen plenty of ups and downs in his career, the most famous being his fallout with coach Syed Nayeemuddin, which nearly pushed him into retirement. He reconsidered his decision at the request of Bob Houghton and the then AIFF president, Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi. But he does not hold a grudge against anyone and treats it as part of life.
Bhaichung has scored 43 international goals for India, the most by any Indian. He is one of the few Indians to have made 100 appearances for the country. Players like him come once in many generations, and his instinctive ability to grasp, adjust and deliver is what makes him such an outstanding footballer. Cool and restrained on the field, Bhaichung Bhutia combines physical and mental strength. The sport will probably never see his like again.
Salute the maestro for his grit, guts and glory!
By Samikshan Dutta Choudhury
Indian Sports News
