Imphal, Sept 06: Former Indian football team captain Baichung Bhutia visited the Thokchom Birachandra Singh Football Academy at Taobungkhok today and interacted with the young players who are being trained at the academy.During his three days long visit, he visited there and spirited the young players of the academy. Thokchom Birachandra Singh Football Academy is a premiere football academy of Manipur who has produced many successfull footballers in its history. The academy has been providing training to young and emerging prospects of the state who are determined to make a space in the world of football.
Later in the day, the star player also attended a coaching session at the NISA coaching centre at NCC ground, Thangmeiband.
Baichung Bhutia encouraged the young players at TBSFA to play and train hard.
He further lauded that the opening of such academy should be encouraged as it helps in producing several good players.
Meanwhile, at the NCC ground, the star player was accorded a warm welcome by the NCC cadets, its Subroto Cup team and NISA players. He encouraged the young players of the state to train hard.
In Fifa’s century club list only eight players, which include legends like Lothar Mathaeus (Germany) and Henrik Larsson (Sweden) have had a longer international career than Baichung. His feat has enabled India to become the 12th Asian country to join the century club.
As India play few international matches, it has taken Baichung 14 years to reach his milestone. He first played for India in the 1995 Nehru Cup in Chennai, and, barring injury his international career should last at least till the 2011 Asia Cup.
Baichung is the first Indian footballer whose appeal on a national level has transcended his sport. He is a brand ambassador for Nike; in his native Sikkim a stadium is named after him. With 43 international goals so far, he is India’s top-scorer and could become the first Indian to score 50 goals.
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