Biggest challenge for everyone is to keep egos down, says Bhaichung Bhutia
Bhaichung Bhutia has asked all the stakeholders of Indian football to keep their egos down in order to pave a better way for Indian football with all the turmoil going on at the moment. He also stated that Mohun Bagan and East Bengal’s inclusion with ISL will be a huge boost for the clubs’ history.
With the AIFF’s executive committee meeting scheduled on July 9 and the I-League clubs’ much-awaited meeting with president Praful Patel already done, Indian football is still at crossroads with the future uncertain.
While Patel has vowed to convince AFC to let India simultaneously run two leagues, the AFC Cup and AFC Champions league spots have still been a controversial affair and would need sorting out soon. And Indian footballing legend Bhaichung Bhutia has stated that the management and the clubs have to put their self-interest and egos aside in order take an ideal decision.
“I think the biggest challenge right now is to keep the egos down. It has to be give-and-take. Everything can't be the way you want. It has to be a bit of sacrifice for all the parties (I-League, ISL and AIFF), keeping your egos down, looking at the betterment of Indian football,” said Bhutia during a Football Players Association of India (FPAI) event reported PTI.
"Everybody right now is looking at their own clubs to survive, their own league to do well... Yes, there are different challenges in I-League and there are also pluses and minuses in it. We have got the same thing for the Federation and ISL as well.
“The structure of Indian football, sooner it gets settled, the better. Till the time you don't get your structure, this is going to go on happening. Federation's biggest challenge with ISL and I-League is to get the structure right,” he further added.
With reports and signs hinting at I-League seeming getting demoted into the second tier in the near future, Bhutia has advocated for Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal to be included in the top tier Indian Super League comparing them to Real Madrid and Barcelona.
“Today if you play a Spanish League and if you do not play Barcelona or Real Madrid then the charm of the league no more exits. By bringing them into the top league will only add to the passion and the competition will be much better. I'm sure one day they will get in,” he said.
"ISL will definitely benefit with East Bengal and Mohun Bagan coming in. These clubs have a lot of history, they bring in fans to the stadium. The I-League name can be changed. What we need right now is a top league with the big clubs of East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and the ISL teams. They need to be more professional,” he added.
