Chumbung’s Uttam Rai dazzles at AFC U-16, trains with India U-19 now

GANGTOK, 24 Oct: Uttam Rai, the young footballer from Sikkim has so impressed selectors with his skills at the recently concluded AFC U-16 Qualifiers in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, that he has now also been included in U-19 India camp underway in Goa.
Uttam, a skillful striker, hails from Chumbung in West Sikkim and has also undergone a nine-month soccer training camp in the United State. A product of the Namchi Sports Hostel, he was later taken in by the Air Force.
At the recently concluded AFC U-16 Qualifier, Uttam scored five goals for India against Krygyzstan out of his total of seven goals in three matches in the tournament.
Speaking to NOW!, the Sikkim Football Association general secretary, Menla Ethenpa, mentioned that Uttam has a lot of potential and has emerged as one of the main scorers in the India team at the AFC tourney.
Mr. Ethenpa informs that the AIFF has been training this team, of which Uttam is now a lead striker, with the target to having them at their peak for the World Cup qualifiers in 2018.
Mr Ethenpa shared that the SFA was also hopeful that Uttam will sustain his performance and grow into the star that he has potential for.
Uttam’s profile maintained on the AIFF website introduces him as a talent discovered at the Subroto Cup, much like Sikkim’s favourite son, Bhaichung Bhutia, who caught the eye of selectors at the same tournament much before him.
At the IMG Academy in Florida, Uttam was declared the ‘Player of the Year,’ among all categories earlier this year. Coach Bitan Singh, who was based in Florida along with Uttam and others informs, “He scored more than 100 goals in the last Calendar Year. His mastery is never in doubt.”