Bhaichung Bhutia vows to work for the development of football in India

Bhaichung Bhutia on Wednesday said that he would contribute to work hard for the development of football in the country. "I am committed to work for the development of football in the country," he told reporters at a press conference, a day after returning to his home state, Sikkim.

He thanked all those people and various social organisations and political parties for extending their support to him during the election process. "Now it is time to dust off all election-related issues and concentrate on the ongoing work for betterment of the beautiful game of football in the country," Bhutia said.

The 45 year-old former striker said he was "shocked to see the level of political interference in the elections for various AIFF posts in which three Union ministers and about nine chief ministers had meddled at various levels to influence the outcome." He, however, refrained from taking names of those politicians who had interfered in the poll process. "Whatever has been said and done on the results of elections cannot be undone, but I would yet again like to congratulate Kalyan Chaubey on his election as AIFF President and hope that football will grow under his presidentship." Bhutia said.

The former footballer, at the same time, regretted that the growth of football had "suffered over the past several decades as wrong people" were inducted in the national and state association because of "political influence". Responding to various allegations by his political detractors questioning his contributions to football in Sikkim or elsewhere, he dared them to come forward and run the United Sikkim football club for at least three years.