Bhaichung Bhutia

Early Days

Bhaichung Bhutia was born on 15th June,1976, the son of Mrs. and Mr. Sonam Topden at Tinkitam, South Sikkim. At age 11 Bhaichung's on field skill football earned him a SAI Scholarship at the Tashi Namgyal Academy, Gangtok. His spectacular talent earned laurels for his school as he excelled in all the Public School Tournaments, and the Subroto Cup, in particular. During his school days he was also selected for the Gangtok based Boys Club managed by his mentor Karma Bhutia and coached by Thupden Rabgyal. Besides his first love, football, Bhaichung also represented his school in Badminton, basketball and athletics. Unlike other prodigies Bhaichung's blaze to glory has progressed steadily. In 1992 he donned the Indian colours for the first time at under 16 Sub Junior Tournament at Dacca. The same year he also represented his home State Sikkim at the prestigious Governor's Gold Cup Tournament where he demolished the likes of George Telegraph and Md. Sporting almost single handedly, In the semi finals Sikkim lost to mighty Mohun Bagan in the extra time.

East Bengal

In early 1993 Mr. Bhaskar Ganguly and Mr. Prasun Banerjee, stalwarts of East Bengal Club, and undoubtedly two of India's best footballers, contacted Mr. Karma Bhutia for Bhaichung's debut into Calcutta Football. As he was just sixteen years old, Bhaichung's parents left the decision solely to Mr. Karma Bhutia, who then decided to enroll him with the East Bengal Club, a decision that changed the Indian football scenario. All football fans will remember Bhaichung's spectacular back volley at the Durand Cup in November, 1993 which took East Bengal to title finals. Old timers compared this to the uncanny similarity to Shyam Thapa's back volley for Mohun Bagan against Mafatlals in the 1978 Durand Cup.

Alongwith Bhaichung's rise to fame, Sikkim too has been favored with the limelight visitors to this tiny but exquisite Himalayan State who invariably ask for his haunts. His proficiency with the ball has earned him nicknames such as 'Wiz Kid', 'Crisis Man', 'Man with the Golden Boot', 'Tinkitam Express', 'Wonder Kid', 'Boy Wonder', 'Scorpion' and many others. The celebrated R.K.Laxman's cartoon of Bhaichung carried the caption 'Boy, Oh Boy'. He moved to JCT Mills, Phagwara in 1995 along with many other star players and helped them win the National Football League. Top scoring in the NFL, he was picked to play for India in the Nehru Cup the same year. In 1997, he returned to Kolkata to his favourite East Bengal, and captained them in the 1998-99. He was voted the 'Asian Player of the Month' in May 1999, and during the same year won the Sikkim State Award and the Arjuna Award.

Baichung, looking for professional exposure in Europe, gave trials for several English clubs, but failed. Eventually, Bury FC, an English second division club, signed him up. He improved by leaps and bounds during the short stint at Bury and profited from the superior strategy and fitness training of the foreign coaches employed by the Indian team in the new millennium. He has thrived under the influence of the present India coach, Stephen Constantine and this has made a big difference to the Indian team's fortunes in recent years.

Playing under the guidance of former India striker, Subhas Bhowmick, he recently won for East Bengal the Asean Cup Club Championship almost single-handedly. Baichung has signed up with Malaysian champion club, Perak, to play in their league this year and has already made a difference to their fortunes despite taking ill a few days after moving in. Baichung's genial nature is matched with a great determination to succeed and an intense killer instinct that is alien to Indian sport.

Career

• 1992 - Sub :Junior India at Dacca.
• 1992 - SFA : Governors Gold Cup and Nationals
• 1993 : Joined East Bengal Club Calcutta
• 1993-98 : East Bengal Club
• 1994-98 : Represented India
• 1995 : South Asian Football Federation Tournament (Kathmandu)
• 1996: Player of the Year
• 1996: Joined JCT
• 1997: Winner 1st National League JCT
• 1998: Winner SAFF in Nepal
• 1999: Winner SAFF in Goa
• 1999: ASIAN (AFC) Player of the Month (July)
• 1999: Received the Arjuna Award
• 1999: Joined Bury FC in Manchester, England.