BHAICHUNG SAYS HE HAS NO REGRETS FOR BACKING USFC AND SIKKIM; LOOKS FORWARD TO WHAT FUTURE HOLDS
GANGTOK, 14 May: His club’s I-League debut ending in relegation notwithstanding, United Sikkim Football Club co-owner, Bhaichung Bhutia, shared today that he was proud of what the club, its management and its players managed to achieve despite their lack of experience and paucity of funds. Addressing a press conference here today, Bhaichung said that he drew deep satisfaction from his Sikkim club having broken into the elite club of I-League teams, having played against the best in the country and hosted them at Paljor Stadium. Some of the bigger clubs were returning to Sikkim after nearly a decade while some other had never even played here, Bhaichung pointed out.
As for relegation from senior division I-League, which should have been automatic, Bhaichung informed today that this was still uncertain because of some new developments at AIFF which was dropping ONGC and Air India for failing to meet some criteria and also likely to give direct entry to two new franchise teams. The AIFF is the process of inviting bids for the franchise teams and in this fluid scenario, relegation options too are uncertain, he said.
A final picture should emerge over the next two weeks, Bhaichung informed, stating that there was still an outside chance that USFC will remain in the senior division I-League.
Bhaichung also mentioned that the USFC was a private company now with around 70% of its shares with a Dubai-based company, Fidelis World.
“The club might remain in the I-League or not, but will always remain in Sikkim and continue to give priority to local footballing talents by providing them with a good platform and better exposure,” he assured.
In fact, Bhaichung shared today that the club’s relegation from the I-League would be a blessing in disguise for him as this would free up his scheduled enough to allow him to spend more time in Sikkim and work on his vision and dream for football in the state.
He said that he saw it as his duty to reach the interiors to promote football and tap rural talent. He pointed out that he himself hails from rural Sikkim and benefitted from opportunities opened for him. He was to reciprocate his gesture many times over for the current crop of football talent in rural Sikkim.
“I will dedicate much more time to youngster and talented footballers especially those from rural areas to provide them a better exposure and platform and if possible send these children outside the state for better training,” Bhaichung said.
He mentioned that the club has been helping out football academies around the state and would continue to support them and raise funds for them.
“My ultimate dream is to have all eleven players in the USFC squad from Sikkim and see that team as among the strongest in the country,” he said.
On the club’s rather disappointing debut in the senior division, Bhaichung mentioned that lack of experience was one reason since no one in the USFC line-up, including its foreign players, came with an I-League experience. And then there was the question of finances, with the club not being as flush with funds as they would have wanted to be, primarily because corporate sponsorship did not deliver as required.
The foreign players and coach have already been released with the end of the I-League season and the fate of the club, in as much as the scale of its future endeavors, remains uncertain.
Responding to media queries on whether USFC will play in the second division to work its way back to I-League, Bhaichung said that it was a big struggle for the team especially in terms of money as it was difficult to convince big companies from outside to invest in football. He said that this was not only a problem in Sikkim, but a situation across the country. He said that earlier, even in the second division the team had good players and investors.
Responding to a question, Bhaichung added that being a private company the club has never expected or depended on the government but if the government was to support the club, it would be welcomed because it would directly benefit local footballers and other people earning their livelihoods from the club.
On the question on the progress of his proposed football academy in Sikkim, he informed that the file was still under process with the government department. He mentioned that if the sports academy came up, it would be good for the state and for football in the state.
“I have no any regrets on setting up the club in the state despite the many big challenges we faced in bringing the club to this position. I am also really sorry to hardcore fans of the club for having been relegated in the I-League,” he said.
GANGTOK, 14 May: His club’s I-League debut ending in relegation notwithstanding, United Sikkim Football Club co-owner, Bhaichung Bhutia, shared today that he was proud of what the club, its management and its players managed to achieve despite their lack of experience and paucity of funds. Addressing a press conference here today, Bhaichung said that he drew deep satisfaction from his Sikkim club having broken into the elite club of I-League teams, having played against the best in the country and hosted them at Paljor Stadium. Some of the bigger clubs were returning to Sikkim after nearly a decade while some other had never even played here, Bhaichung pointed out.
As for relegation from senior division I-League, which should have been automatic, Bhaichung informed today that this was still uncertain because of some new developments at AIFF which was dropping ONGC and Air India for failing to meet some criteria and also likely to give direct entry to two new franchise teams. The AIFF is the process of inviting bids for the franchise teams and in this fluid scenario, relegation options too are uncertain, he said.
A final picture should emerge over the next two weeks, Bhaichung informed, stating that there was still an outside chance that USFC will remain in the senior division I-League.
Bhaichung also mentioned that the USFC was a private company now with around 70% of its shares with a Dubai-based company, Fidelis World.
“The club might remain in the I-League or not, but will always remain in Sikkim and continue to give priority to local footballing talents by providing them with a good platform and better exposure,” he assured.
In fact, Bhaichung shared today that the club’s relegation from the I-League would be a blessing in disguise for him as this would free up his scheduled enough to allow him to spend more time in Sikkim and work on his vision and dream for football in the state.
He said that he saw it as his duty to reach the interiors to promote football and tap rural talent. He pointed out that he himself hails from rural Sikkim and benefitted from opportunities opened for him. He was to reciprocate his gesture many times over for the current crop of football talent in rural Sikkim.
“I will dedicate much more time to youngster and talented footballers especially those from rural areas to provide them a better exposure and platform and if possible send these children outside the state for better training,” Bhaichung said.
He mentioned that the club has been helping out football academies around the state and would continue to support them and raise funds for them.
“My ultimate dream is to have all eleven players in the USFC squad from Sikkim and see that team as among the strongest in the country,” he said.
On the club’s rather disappointing debut in the senior division, Bhaichung mentioned that lack of experience was one reason since no one in the USFC line-up, including its foreign players, came with an I-League experience. And then there was the question of finances, with the club not being as flush with funds as they would have wanted to be, primarily because corporate sponsorship did not deliver as required.
The foreign players and coach have already been released with the end of the I-League season and the fate of the club, in as much as the scale of its future endeavors, remains uncertain.
Responding to media queries on whether USFC will play in the second division to work its way back to I-League, Bhaichung said that it was a big struggle for the team especially in terms of money as it was difficult to convince big companies from outside to invest in football. He said that this was not only a problem in Sikkim, but a situation across the country. He said that earlier, even in the second division the team had good players and investors.
Responding to a question, Bhaichung added that being a private company the club has never expected or depended on the government but if the government was to support the club, it would be welcomed because it would directly benefit local footballers and other people earning their livelihoods from the club.
On the question on the progress of his proposed football academy in Sikkim, he informed that the file was still under process with the government department. He mentioned that if the sports academy came up, it would be good for the state and for football in the state.
“I have no any regrets on setting up the club in the state despite the many big challenges we faced in bringing the club to this position. I am also really sorry to hardcore fans of the club for having been relegated in the I-League,” he said.
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