Sport | Football
Bhutia has no plans to retire from soccer
India's top soccer player Baichung Bhutia feels he can still contribute a lot to the sport. Bhutia is the skipper of the Indian soccer team currently training in Dubai on their way to the Asian Games in Doha.
- By Alaric Gomes, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:35 May 3, 2009
- Image Credit: Karl Jeffs/Gulf News
- The Indian squad train at the Iranian Club before heading to Qatar for the Asian Games.
Dubai: India's top soccer player Baichung Bhutia feels he can still contribute a lot to the sport.
"I do not have any plans to retire or start any sort of parallel career at this moment," Bhutia told Gulf News before a training session at the Iranian Club.
Bhutia is the skipper of the Indian soccer team currently training in Dubai on their way to the Asian Games in Doha later this month.
"There are several options before me at the moment and coaching is definitely one of these," Bhutia said.
"But I have no plans to stop playing as I still have the fire and yearning to give something to the game," the Indian striker stated.
Bhutia has been one of the lights for Indian soccer in recent years, especially after he became the first-ever Indian footballer to sign a professional contract with a club in Europe - he was transferred from East Bengal Club to second Division club Bury FC in 1999.
After the 2001-02 season, Bhutia returned to India and played for Mohun Bagan AC, who went on to become the Indian National Football League champions.
One year later, he moved again and joined his former club East Bengal.
"I think I am enjoying my soccer at this moment and I am also feeling hungry to do what I do best on the field," Bhutia insisted.
The Indian captain was pleased to be heading a group of talented youngsters to the Asian Games in Doha.
India play their first game of the soccer competition against Hong Kong on December 29.
"We want to do well in the Asian Games and launch a new beginning for the team," Bhutia said.
"This will only be the start.
"After that we need to get the youth development programme on track and then pay attention to producing quality coaches," Bhutia suggested.
And Bhutia can see himself becoming useful to Indian soccer in all this. "There are options before me and I would love to be attached to the game in some way so that I can contribute to changing the face of the sport in India," Bhutia offered.
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