New Delhi : The run for AIFF president is a contest between former Indian legendary footballers and now turn politicians, Bhaichung Bhutia and Kalyan Chaubey. For almost 34 years, Priyaranjan Dasmunsi and Praful Patel rule the presidential spot of AIFF.
On Thursday afternoon, both the ex Indian footballers file their nominations for the post of President for AIFF. The election is going to take place on 2nd September in New Delhi.
In this dramatic tale, Rajasthan Football Association President Manvendra Singh who is a former Congress Lok Sabha MP isn’t backing Kalyan Chaubey’s candidature. While Rajasthan Football Association and Andhra Pradesh Football Association backing Bhaichung Bhutia, who file his name at the dying hour of the presidential nomination.
“Kalyan is a sweet guy, a nice person. But I will be a better president. I will be able to do much more justice to the game than him,” Bhutia speak to the media. He also adds “I run a football club and I have been in state association in Sikkim for the last six years, I have had the exposure of playing in England too. I am in constant touch with some of the world’s top footballers, I started Indian football players association – only football has a players association with proper rules in place.”
Bhutia, meanwhile, confirms that be wants to work more on to empower Indian players and to all state football associations, which are lacking over the years under the administration leading by Praful Patel. “I don’t want India to only host the Under-17 World Cup. Until and unless we produce players, we can’t move forward. And players will be produced by states. Today, states are struggling to organise leagues and grassroots tournaments. They were not given proper guidance or support. I will make sure states and players are given top priority,” he said.
The AIFF elections in this coming Friday will be now hold for just two posts – president and treasurer, for which Arunachal Pradesh’s Kipa Ajay and Andhra Pradesh’s Gopalakrishna Kosaraju will contest.
