'India should draw inspiration from North Korea'

Dubai: Baichung Bhutia will be 33 this December. Considered the torch-bearer of contemporary Indian football, the 'Sikkimese Sniper' became a pioneer of sorts for many of his compatriots when he paraded his skills first with Bury FC in England and then on loan at Perak FA in Malaysia.

Bhutia has been a consistent performer for club and country with the most recent highlight of his career coming at the AFC Challenge Cup that has allowed India a window of opportunity at the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar.

For his contribution to Indian football, Bhutia has been bestowed with the prestigious Arjuna and the Padma Shri awards. Perhaps, one his most important contributions to the sport is the formation of the Football Players' Association (FPA) of India with the objective of ensuring professional players in the country are treated fairly by their employers. But there is a lot more still to be done, he said in an interview recently.

GULF NEWS: Where does Indian football now stand?

BAICHUNG BHUTIA: To start with, we have to be proud of what we have achieved by qualifying for the 2011 Asian Cup to be held in Qatar. Playing in the continental tournament (Asian Cup) and the Fifa World Cup is the dream of any footballer. And qualifying for the Asian Cup has been a big, big achievement for us.

What would be the goals for the Asian Cup?

Our main aim would be to go to Qatar and do well. We are not expecting to go there and win the Cup, but we are capable of going there and giving off our best against the top teams in Asia.

But India is ranked 147th in the world.

We are ranked so low because football is not a big sport in India. We are fighting against all odds - we don't have grounds, infrastructure is bad, youth development is not there - there are a lot of difficulties and players have been playing out of sheer passion for the game.

Have things changed?

Oh yes, there have been a lot of changes under coach Bob Houghton. The AIFF (All India Football Federation) has given him a lot of support. On the whole, it's been difficult, but it's a good first step.

Where do you think the change has occurred after Houghton?

I think the change has been in the mind. It has been a big challenge to alter this mindset among people. For instance, we have so many domestic tournaments which honestly, we don't need as these do not benefit the game.

Which people are you talking about?

The people are the ones who are involved in the game, including the media, the fans, the officials and the clubs too. The federation has been very supportive of the suggestions made and we need to take these forward. Football in India is not the same as football in England.

What is to be done then?

I think we need to draw inspiration from North Korea. Their national team has been together for three years and they have qualified to the 2010 Fifa World Cup. A few years back, we drew against North Korea. In a developing country like ours there are bound to be difficulties, but the national team has to be supported because if they don't do well then no one is going to benefit.

What sort of structure or formula can you think of?

People first need to look at our system and see what is happening. Players should be given shorter contracts. What's the point in registering a player's contract for one year or three or four years? The player needs to be encouraged to play with one club for three months, and should he get a fresh opening with some other club where he can be more fruitful, then so be it.

What is your vision for Indian football?

My vision is to see India qualify for the Fifa World Cup. Of course, there are a lot of things that need to be changed starting with the grassroots, the youth development programmes and the infrastructure. The under-14s and under-16s and under-18s need to have qualified coaches. Here it's not about the Indian population, it's more about infrastructure and development.

What do you think of the current Indian team?

This team is a good unit, but we could do with some individual qualities of a Bruno [Coutinho], I.M. Vijayan or a Joe Paul Ancheri. The strength of this side is the teamwork, not just on the field, but off it, too.

Do you think you can last till the 2011 Asian Cup?

I could be playing till 2018. At the moment, my mind says, "Yes, I want to play till 2011."

Do you agree with Bhutia's comment on the current state of Indian football? What do you think is required to take the game to a higher level?