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Bhutia turns out for Fulham in exhibition games

Star striker Baichung Bhutia will become the first Indian to play in the professional soccer league abroad when he turns out for Fulham F C, a first division soccer club in England, on July 19.

All India Football Federation president Priyaranjan Das Munshi said that the AIFF had received a message the Football Association of England for Bhutia's clearence to play in England for Fulham FC this season. The AIFF in turn sent it to IFA, with whom Baichung is registered. Both bodies have given the necessary clearance, which frees Bhutia to play for Fulham.

Though a few non-resident Indians play in the British league, Baichung is the first Indian in the real sense of the term to play in a professional league abroad.

According to information received from Fulham, Baichung, the 23-year-old lad from the Himalayan state of Sikkkim, will play in two exhibition matches for Fulham before the professional league starts there. If he is found suitable, then Fulham will utilise his service in the professional league.

Jemy Brudbary, an official of FEA, said professional teams in England were now playing exhibition matches among themselves as a preparation for the main league. Baichung had been called to play in these matches.

However, it could not be said at the moment if Baichung would be retained for the whole season, he said, adding, "But now that he has been called, and all requisite permission taken, it is unlikely that he will be released after playing two exhibition matches."

Fulham's press officer Mark Mauntersas said Bhaichung's continued tenure with Fulham would "depend on how he gets along with other players and the manager, besides how he fares in the pre-season friendlies.''

Baichung had tried his luck abroad twice earlier, in the United States and England, but did not succeed. This time, Baichung preferred to keep his foray in England a secret. To prepare himself well before the trial he went to Sweden for special physical training and appeared for trial at Derby and then at Crystal Palace in England.

Bhaichung will not be played for these exhibition games.

The lad from Sikkim started his playing career when he was a student of the Sports Authority of India-adopted school Tashi Namgyal Institute in Gangtok. He came into the limelight when he signed for East Bengal in 1993. He played mostly for East Bengal except for one year, 1997-'98, when he played for the Phagwara-based JCT Mills.

One of the richest soccer players in the country, Baichung became the highest scorer in 1997-98 national league. Inspite of not being able to play the first half of the national league due to injury, he emerged as the highest scorer with fourteen goals to his credit.

Baichung has to his credit endorsements from McDowell and Reebok. Recently, the Asian Football Confederation voted him ''player of the month''.

Former greats such as Chuni Goswami, P K Bannerjee (now technical director of the Indian national team), Amal Dutta and Subhas Bhowmick hailed Baichung's England foray as a red letter day for Indian soccer.

UNI