On Saturday, former Indian football captain and Arjuna Award winner Baichung Bhutia visited Kolkata to celebrate the 21st Annual Sports Day of Delhi Public School, Ruby, held at Gitanjali Stadium. Over 3,000 students participated in the event. A special banner over 70 feet+ honouring his contributions to Indian football was unveiled. The banner displayed, 'Pride of the nation on our field. The man who put Indian football on the world map.'
The programme unfolded with an impressive march past and ceremonial proceedings, followed by a series of track and field events across age groups. Speaking at the event, Baichung Bhutia urged the parents to encourage the children to play sports as the importance of sports in shaping character, resilience, and leadership is unparalleled.
“Children should be encouraged to participate in sports, regardless of the discipline, whether it is cricket, football, taekwondo, hockey, or any other game. Even playing for one or two hours for a few days or at the weekend can make a difference. Playing sports does not mean aiming to represent India or compete professionally; it is primarily about staying active and maintaining good physical and mental health,” he said.
Baichung Bhutia on the future of Indian Football
While responding to a question by News Ei Samay, the former captain expressed his concerns about the future of Football in India. Talking about the decreasing number of local tournaments in small towns and villages, he said, “Many footballers come from small towns and villages, which is why local tournaments are so important. But in places like Bengal and the North East, most tournaments are still focused on senior players. There needs to be more attention on junior-level tournaments, as that will give better opportunities to the players.”
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In response to Baichung Bhutia’s statement, Tanumoy Basu, head of youth for Mohun Bagan Super Giants, emphasised that the District Sports Association must be proactive, as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) alone cannot solve the issue. He stressed that youth tournaments should be organised effectively.
He also mentioned that the growing number of foreign players has decreased opportunities for youth players. The District Sports Association needs to be more proactive in organising football at the grassroots level and should work to revive inter-district tournaments, and also admit that a lack of interest and understanding of football among parents is one of the reasons hindering the development of young players.
ISL and I-League reset needed
The former Indian captain also expressed his concerns about the ISL and the I-League and said that it needs to be restarted from zero, and also needs to be restructured with a new administration.
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Speaking to the media, he noted the vandalism in the Salt Lake stadium is unfortunate and also said that it has nothing to do with sports. If India wants to emerge as a sporting nation, then it should begin from the school level, and Sports should be made a compulsory course in schools.
