Remembering footballer Baichung Bhutia

Eighteen years ago I vividly   remember running into   Baichung Bhutia, India’s most acclaimed and celebrated footballer of our time. Candidly speaking   never   in my wildest   dreams I imagined the sprightly and gifted youngster would   climb the heights of football greatness.

The nimble- footed   footballer was   the   youngest   member   of   the   Sikkim outfit   that    was in town to participate in the Birthday Cup. With great interest  and curiosity   I  watched  the Tashi  Namgyal Academy    talent  fresh off  from his fantastic  Subroto  Cup debut where he was adjudged  player of the tournament .

He   did not disappoint and   lived up to expectations.  He was a bundle of confidence and exhibited flair and poise in his performance. He had all the hallmarks of a great football player.

Later I caught up with him. Like   most youngsters he was initially shy and hesitant to share his thoughts but ultimately opened his mouth.

He echoed a strong   sentiment to become a   highly successful professional footballer.  And he made it very clear that he would fully commit himself to make his dream come true.   

The wait was very short. He got the all important breakthrough during the All India Governor’s Gold Cup in 1992. So impressed was   the former international   Bhaskar Ganguly with his skills that he took him to East Bengal.

Pouncing on the opportunity  he  never looked back and more importantly kept the ball rolling. The most remarkable thing about him was that he  got better and better by the day to become  a consummate player.

He quickly transformed himself into a prolific and innovative goal scorer. Despite his medium frame, he constantly tormented   and   bamboozled   even   the   most   rigid defense. He just found ways to score be it off a long   ranger   or   off   a   gliding l header or through individual excellence.

His meteoric rise to success and   stardom was dramatic, and he became the toast of Indian football. At 19 he made his international debut against Uzbekistan in the Nehru Cup. The rookie made a dream start by scoring a superb goal.

With 43 goals and 109 international appearances to his credit, he became India’s most capped player. Domestically   he played for the most part for East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and JCT Mills Phagwara.

Another feather, probably the most important one   was added to his football career. In 2001 he was made the skipper of   India’s national team, a position he held until the day he announced his retirement.

Although his dream to play in the World Cup did not materialize, he had a   handful of   standout    moments.  In 2003 he was instrumental in East Bengal ASEAN Cup trump in Jakarta, Indonesia. Not only was he the tournament‘s top scorer with 9 goals but also won man of the match on one occasion.

His pivotal role in   the team’s success in the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008 enabled India to play in the 2011 Asia Cup. He was voted the most valuable player of the tournament. He led India to victory in the 2007 and 2009 Nehru Cup.

In the Nehru Cup (2009) he walked away with player of the tournament award. Also in 1999 and 2005 SAFF Championship he was declared the most valuable player.

In recognition of his contribution to Indian football he was decorated with   Arjuna award (1998) and Padma Shree (2008). In 1995 and 2008 was AIFF player of the year and won the golden boot award on numerous occasions in the National League, Federation Cup and, Kolkata League.

He made national headlines when he signed a four year deal with English Club Bury FC in 1999 and thus making him the first Indian in the post-independence era to play in Europe. He played briefly for Malaysia’s leading club Perak in 2003 on loan.

He had a huge fan following in Nepal and enjoyed a   cozy relation with most of our past and present   international footballers. He was likeable, down to earth and fun loving character.

Baichung‘s decision to call it quits marked the end of a glorious career, spanning sixteen years.  The thirty four   year old from a sleepy village of Tinkitam in South Sikkim   will go down in the annals of Indian football as the most decorated, greatest and recognizable footballer of all time.

In a country like India where cricket and cricketers are worshipped as idols it was unthinkable for   any one from outside the cricketing fraternity   to stand on an equal footing.  The Sikkimese   achieved which no other athlete had   ever  in terms  of  fame,  popularity, fan base ,  corporate  support and sponsorship.

He became the face of Indian football nationally and internationally. Team India is bound to miss his stewardship,   dynamism , precision and  acumenship.  

Bhutia ,now  a father of  twins (son and daughter), however   will continue to play   for  his  newly  acquired club  “United  Sikkim FC” in club level tournaments. And at the  same  time  he   will devote a lot of time  to “ Bahichung Bhutia Football School” in Delhi he founded.

Regardless   of  his retirement Bhutia  will continue to live in our hearts and minds.