East Bengal FC ready to offer ceremonial farewell match to Bhaichung Bhutia
East Bengal have stated that they will be looking forward to fulfill Bhaichung Bhutia’s dream of retiring in the club's colours by allowing him to play a part in their first match of the upcoming season. The club will also be presenting an award to him as a part of their centenary celebrations.
Having expressed his desire recently to end his footballing career in Kolkata wearing an East Bengal FC jersey, the club was quick to address Bhaichung Bhutia’s request positively. An Indian footballing legend, the Sikkimese Sniper has scored 50-plus goals for the club in his career and also has 40 goals for the country internationally. He last donned the national colours in the 2011 Asian Cup and last played in a professional match in 2013 for his home I-League side, United Sikkim.
"Bhaichung has made it clear that he wants to retire from football as an East Bengalplayer and the club is willing to give him a chance to realize his dream. We'll talk to the coach (Alejandro Menendez, who is now holidaying back in Spain) and the team management. If they agree, Bhaichung can take the field as an East Bengal player in the local league's first match," East Bengal FC’s senior official Debabrata Sarkar was reported saying by TOI.
On 1st August of the present year, the club will complete 100 years of existence and will be honouring Bhutia with the ‘Identifying and Nurturing the Icon’ award. He first joined the Red and Golden brigade back in 1993 when he was only 15 years of age and retiring at the club would signal life coming a complete circle for him. He was also offered the opportunity to retire at the club in 2015, but injuries and lack of fitness had prevented him from doing the same.
Bhutia first rose to fame when he scored a hattrick against bitter rivals Mohun Bagan in the 1997 Federation Cup semi-final. Back then, he was just 19-year-old and became the first-ever player to score three goals in the historic local derby, in front of an Indian record crowd of 1,37,000. Bhutia would go on to achieve various feats with the club in four separate stints.
"Firstly, the 1997 derby in the Federation Cup semi final. Not because scored a hat-trick against Mohun Bagan, but the way about a lakh and 37 thousand fans made it a grand spectacle at Salt Lake Stadium. Secondly, when we landed at the airport after winning Asean Club Championship in Jakarta (in 2003). Thousands of fans welcomed us in an unimaginable way. Fans remain the heartbeat of this club. And these two incidents will remain forever in my heart," Bhaichung reminisced about what has been a glittering career.