Won't Sell Dreams, But Will Work To Take Indian Football Forward: Kalyan Chaubey

All India Football Federation's (AIFF) new president Kalyan Chaubey on Friday said he will not "sell dreams" like the country will play in the World Cup in eight years but will endeavour to bring improvement in the game from the current standard. Chaubey trounced the legendary Bhaichung Bhutia in the election for the top post as the AIFF got a former player as its president for the first time in its 85-year history. Thirty-three members of the electoral college voted for Chaubey while Bhutia got just one vote.

Addressing a press conference after his election as the new AIFF president, Chaubey said he will not make "unrealiseable promises".

"Hum aapke samne sapne bechne nahi aayenge. Ye nahi bolenge ki humne phalana academy bana diya and humne aat saal me World Cup khelenge (We will not come before you to sell dreams. We will not say that we have established so many academies and we will play in the World Cup in eight years).

"In my life I have taken part in the inauguration of more than 100 academies and in all these academies it has been said that the kids will play in the World Cup in eight years. But in reality it does not happen like this," he said.

"We are not making any promise but we will say we will take Indian football forward from the current condition and how much we will go forward will be worked out. We are not going to sell dreams."

Chaubey, a former goalkeeper for big clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, welcomed Bhutia in the executive committee as a co-opted member.

"The contribution made by Bhaichung Bhutia in Indian football, very few players have done so. We welcome him," Chaubey said.

"Ramayan mey setu ko baandhne mey gilhari ka bhumika raha, Hanuman ji akele setu ko baandh sakte the lekin usme