Bhaichung Bhutia

'The prospect of professionally pursuing football and making a career out of it is bigger today than ever before'

Legendary footballer Bhaichung Bhutia was on Tuesday elected as the new president of the Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP). The 45-year-old former India captain was elected unanimously by party leaders and members at a national conference held here, HSP general secretary Biraj Adhikari said. "The HSP is confident that Bhutia will now carry the mantle of leading the fight to rid Sikkim of the present corrupt misrule and provide a transparent and responsive government to the people if elected to power in the future," he said. Bhutia said he will strive to serve the people of Sikkim and represent their hopes and aspirations. "We will work tirelessly towards ensuring social equality and justice and create endless opportunities for every Sikkimese to achieve the true potential of our state," he said. Bhutia thanked outgoing HSP president Bina Basnett for successfully completing her tenure of three years.

Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia on Saturday said he was shocked at the "high level" of political interference in the All India Football Federation (AIFF) elections, which didn't pan out as he would have liked. Bhutia lost to BJP leader and former goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey in the election for the president's post. The 45-year-old Bhutia himself has dabbled in politics, having unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha and state assembly elections on TMC ticket in 2014 and 2016 respectively and founded the Hamro Sikkim Party in his home state. But he said, the AIFF elections should have been fought without any "political interference", and purely on football matters. "I was shocked because I personally did not expect that the political interference (in AIFF elections) would be of such a high level. I thought it's a football president election and I wanted to contribute with sincerity," Bhutia told PTI. "If they (his opponents) were so confident of victory, why a powerful union minister

"It's time to change the system," said Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia on Saturday after world football governing body FIFA lifted the ban imposed on the AIFF. The lifting of the ban on All India Football Federation (AIFF) late on Friday after the Supreme Court terminated the mandate of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) has cleared the decks for India to host the FIFA Women's U-17 World Cup in October. "It's a wonderful news. I welcome the decision of the FIFA to lift the suspension on AIFF. It's a win for Indian football, nothing else," Bhutia told PTI. "I am extremely happy for our young players as they will now be able to play against the best in the business in their age group in the Women's U-17 World Cup." FIFA had suspended the AIFF on August 15 for "undue influence from third parties" and had said the U-17 Women's World Cup "cannot currently be held in India as planned." The suspension, the first time in AIFF's 85-year history, lasted just 11 days after the Sup

The legendary Bhaichung Bhutia on Friday filed his nomination for the president's post in the upcoming All India Football Federation (AIFF) elections even as former player Kalyan Chaubey has emerged as the front runner in the race for the top job. Former captain Bhutia was proposed by his onetime national teammate Deepak Mondal and seconded by Madhu Kumari. Kumari is part of the electoral college as an 'eminent' player. "I have filed my nominations as representative of eminent players. In the wake of the SC decision to allow players I hope the players can have a chance to serve Indian football. We want to show we can be good not only as players but also as administrators," Bhutia told PTI. Football Delhi president Shaji Prabhakaran has also filed the nomination papers for president's post. Also filing the nominations are former player Eugeneson Lyngdoh, through the Meghalaya football association, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's brother Ajit Banerjee. Lyngdoh is .

Former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia has lent his support to the demand for football grounds in Assam's largest city Guwahati, for which several players had staged a protest here.

Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia on Thursday said Argentine football legend Diego Maradona was his inspiration behind taking up the 'beautiful game' as a career option.

Former football captain Bhaichung Bhutia once again stressed on the need to focus on grassroots development in order to make a India a force to reckon with at the Asian level. Bhutia explained that by focussing on the long term goal of strengthening the grass roots, Indian football will be able reap its benefits at the Asian level and the world stage. "We need to produce good quality players. That's very important, when I say that I don't mean we don't have good players now. But in order to compete in Asia and at the world level we need to produce bigger better players from the grassroots," Bhutia said during an Instagram live session with the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF). Hosting U-17 World Cup for boys was a step in right direction. "Hosting the under-17 Word Cup was a starting point for us. It is important for our age group players to participate in competitions, have good training facilities and coaches," he added. "These are things that will help in the long run. We

Bhutia, who has also dabbled in politics, termed the attack a 'planned one'.

AIFF President Praful Patel expressed grief over the demise of Goswami and said that the Goswami's 'contribution to Indian Football will never be forgotten'

Will sports and watching sports ever be the same again in a world scarred by the Covid-19 pandemic?

Bhutia said that he will try to create an environment to encourage the Sikkimese youth to take up the sport in a big way

I am passionate about India and about making it a better place, said Bhutia

India has improved massively in the FIFA rankings, but playing the World Cup is an entirely different thing, the former national captain said.

Bhaichung Bhutia retired from professional football in 2011 and later joined TMC in 2013

Both Congress and CPI (M) were quick to take former India football captain comments as an admission of 'TMC guilt'.