The Hindu : Asian countries need to follow Japan, Korea: Bhutia

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 21, 2002

Sport

Sport - Football

Asian countries need to follow Japan, Korea: Bhutia

By S. R. Suryanarayan

Baichung Bhutia, who was in the city on Saturday along with other leading sportspersons as part of a sponsor's promotion programme, shares his thoughts with the children. — Photo: R. Raghu

CHENNAI JULY 20. Football skills had made him a star player in India and now the experience on Ten Sports as an expert during the just concluded Korea-Japan World Cup had given an added glint to his popularity. ``Yes it went off well, though I was a bit tense initially not having had an experience like that before'', said Bhaichung Bhutia, on his short stint before the camera. ``It was tough in more than one way because the work involved keeping an update of the players of various teams through the internet, spend long hours in the studio and also ensure that the opinions expressed were clear. And then it was no small job giving opinion on the World Cup'', the Indian skipper said, his face lighting up.

Bhutia was in the city on Saturday along with other leading sportspersons like cricketers Jagagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and Badminton ace P. Gopi Chand as part of a sponsor's promotion programme. From the way he blended admirably with Lee Wellings and former England World Cupper Gary Stevens, Bhutia was happy that he could keep his identity intact and that was what he could conjecture from the feed back on the new assignment. Having spent quite sometime in England as a player with Bury FC, Bhutia had a fair knowledge on various teams expect the newcomers like Tunisia. ``I had seen some of the Senegal players because much of the French league could be viewed on television in England'', he said and so it did not surprise him seeing some of them make a mark.

Bhutia felt that the performances of Japan and Korea, even as they were revelations could put more burden on other Asian countries now in trying to catch up in standards.

``The divide is very wide and even if the two countries have shown to other Asian countries the virtues of sustained training over a period time and right from grassroots level, the impact of it need not be inspirational. It would only make others realise how much more extra they had to work to catch up'', he said. This success is only going to make more talents take to football in these two countries, raise the competition level and this cycle will ensure that overall standards keep rising, Bhutia felt.

Coming to India, Bhutia, whose experience in the English setting has widened his knowledge on the various aspects of the game, was of the view that nothing can change unless the stress was on the grassroots level.

``Football is not of talent alone, but stamina, fitness and positive attitude. These are aspects that had to be drilled in right from early age to make them second nature to any aspiring footballer'', he said. And imparting of such knowledge cannot come from a single coach but a collection of experts and this was why an academy was a must for football development. He felt ideally India should have an academy in each of the four zones and another at a central place where the best few from the other academies can be taken up for specialised coaching. ``It will need money and sponsors backing as well as a search for the best brains in the various aspects of the sport'', he said.

This is where Europe is different. Football is business there and this ensures that the sport develops on sound lines. Each club, he said, had its own nursery to train up young talents. Once these trainees begin to show their prowess it was time to use them for the club's own team or they are sold. The revenue that accrues from sale forms the financial lifeline for the club. So on the one hand money is generated and on the other hand the game thrives on the periodic unearthing of high quality talent.

``It is a different level of planning and thinking'', he said on the state of football in Europe.

Bhutia has just completed his contract with Bury club but more than his outings there what he will cherish is the opportunity that the experience gave him to develop his knowledge on all fronts, something that came in handy for his TV assignment. ``No I have not given a thought on pursuing TV as a career yet. I have to get back to playing. Not since last August have I played a competitive match because of the knee surgery I had go undergo in England'', he said. His thoughts are on the forthcoming Vietnam tournament already where India is one of the participants. ``I am leaving for Kolkata tonight enroute to the training camp in Jamshedpur'' he said.

Having decided to play a season or two in India before thinking of another overseas club assignment anywhere in Europe, the obvious question that comes up is which club has he finally decided to play for. ``I have really not had time to sit and decide'', he puts it as a matter of fact but the truth is while the heart cries for East Bengal with which he was long associated, these days other considerations also matter much. It could be Mohun Bagan then. ``But wait, its been a few days only since I was cleared by Bury. Let me decide'', he signs off, preferring to keep his cards close to his chest.

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