Bhaichung Bhutia on state of Indian football: “Until and unless work on grassroots is done properly, Vision 2047 will become Vision 3047”

One of India’s greatest players, Bhaichung Bhutia ran — unsuccessfully — against Kalyan Chaubey in the All India Football Federation presidential elections. He is now an Executive Committee member. Witnessing the inner workings has left him ‘very, very scared’ about the direction the sport is taking in the country.

Talking to Mihir Vasavda, Bhutia opened up about the goal-scoring problems plaguing the national team, the over-reliance on Sunil Chhetri (“By the time he gets to his second retirement, he might have a head haemorrhage!”) and why the AIFF’s Vision 2047 — to be among top four in Asia and have at least one male and one female international star, among other ideas — could turn into ‘Vision 3047’.