NEW DELHI: He is still the captain of the Indian national football team and he could still have played for any top-rung I-League team.
But Baichung Bhutia has decided to go back to his roots leaving all the limelight and adulation that has been the part and parcel of his life since 1996.
After launching his team United Sikkim Football Club, Bhutia is actually leading the team from the front, on and off the field. He is the heartthrob of the team - which is playing in the second division national league - often playing as a defender, something he has rarely done in his long and illustrious career.
He is also the brain behind the running of the team, so he has the added responsibility of managing the affairs of the team and gathering funds.
"It is very tough and the pressure is just double, I must tell you," Bhutia told TOI from Shillong.
But the skipper is immensely happy that he has been able to bring something back to his home state. "You should see the fans flocking the ground. They are so enthusiastic. It actually makes the effort worthwhile."
Bhutia knows that the passion of fans is not enough to run a club successfully and make it an institution. "For the time being, friends are contributing a lot but in the long run we need investments. In three to four years, the fan base will grow and hopefully it will help attract the sponsors."
The initial response to United Sikkim Football Club has been overwhelming. But Bhutia knows that qualifying to the top tier is imperative. "We have to qualify to play in I-League and we are confident in doing so. If we do that, we will start the sale of our team jerseys."
Not forgetting the support of national team colleagues Rennedy Singh and NS Manju, who have turned down I-League offers to be with Sikkim United, Bhutia said, "Their signing has given our venture a serious look. Their contribution to the club is unfathomable."
Still dreaming to play for the national team that has World Cup qualifying engagements in July, Bhutia said he is working hard to regain peak fitness. "I am not playing regularly. Once I start doing that, I will plan to get back to the national fold."
The playing pitch is a problem for the skipper and he has requested the Sikkim government to allot land for a ground and practice facilities. He has set the ball rolling. He will play only for United Sikkim but will retire in an East Bengal shirt after a couple of years or three.
Only time will tell whether Bhutia's dream of making Sikkim a successful club and a viable commercial entity come true. But one thing is certain - his heart is in the right place.
But Baichung Bhutia has decided to go back to his roots leaving all the limelight and adulation that has been the part and parcel of his life since 1996.
After launching his team United Sikkim Football Club, Bhutia is actually leading the team from the front, on and off the field. He is the heartthrob of the team - which is playing in the second division national league - often playing as a defender, something he has rarely done in his long and illustrious career.
He is also the brain behind the running of the team, so he has the added responsibility of managing the affairs of the team and gathering funds.
"It is very tough and the pressure is just double, I must tell you," Bhutia told TOI from Shillong.
But the skipper is immensely happy that he has been able to bring something back to his home state. "You should see the fans flocking the ground. They are so enthusiastic. It actually makes the effort worthwhile."
Bhutia knows that the passion of fans is not enough to run a club successfully and make it an institution. "For the time being, friends are contributing a lot but in the long run we need investments. In three to four years, the fan base will grow and hopefully it will help attract the sponsors."
The initial response to United Sikkim Football Club has been overwhelming. But Bhutia knows that qualifying to the top tier is imperative. "We have to qualify to play in I-League and we are confident in doing so. If we do that, we will start the sale of our team jerseys."
Not forgetting the support of national team colleagues Rennedy Singh and NS Manju, who have turned down I-League offers to be with Sikkim United, Bhutia said, "Their signing has given our venture a serious look. Their contribution to the club is unfathomable."
Still dreaming to play for the national team that has World Cup qualifying engagements in July, Bhutia said he is working hard to regain peak fitness. "I am not playing regularly. Once I start doing that, I will plan to get back to the national fold."
The playing pitch is a problem for the skipper and he has requested the Sikkim government to allot land for a ground and practice facilities. He has set the ball rolling. He will play only for United Sikkim but will retire in an East Bengal shirt after a couple of years or three.
Only time will tell whether Bhutia's dream of making Sikkim a successful club and a viable commercial entity come true. But one thing is certain - his heart is in the right place.
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