Bhaichung Bhutia. (Photo: Facebook)
Dimapur, August 30 (MExN): Indian footballer Bhaichung Bhutia has made an appeal to the football associations in the Northeast ahead of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) president elections.
A former captain of the Indian football team, Bhutia is contesting the elections for the post of president of the AIFF.
“There are some Northeastern State FAs getting pressurized due to political influence. This should only be about football and not about politics,” Bhutia stated in his appeal. He noted that Indian football has suffered a lot over the decades because of political interference and “this is a great opportunity for us to course correct, revive football in our country and bring it up to International standards.”
He also laid down the agendas on which he is contesting the AIFF elections, stating that he would, among others, commit “annual financial support (30 to 50 lakh) to every state for the purpose of conducting grassroots leagues and state leagues.”
He also stated that he was committed to supporting state-level players in Coaches' coaching programs and producing many more qualified local coaches, and conducting a separate state level, Northeast league.
Bhutia also said he would “get many more deserving members of the state FAs into Federation Committees,” and help state Associations technically on all football-related matters.
Appealing for support, Bhutia maintained that the North East region “is the hub of Indian Football and we have become a factory for producing footballers for the country.”
“It is therefore high time for a Northeastern person to lead the Federation. I believe I am the best man for the job and am confident that I have the knowledge, experience, and vision to lead the AIFF and deliver on the job,’ he added.
“…I sincerely appeal to all Northeast state FAs not to get pressurized by outside factors. We need to ensure this for the greater good of Football in the Northeast and for Indian Football at large,” he maintained.
