Skipper Bhaichung Bhutia believes AIFF-IMG Reliance deal is Indian Football's...

AIFF deal is first step to professionalism: Bhutia

Skipper Bhaichung Bhutia believes AIFF-IMG Reliance deal is Indian Football's...

India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia hopes the fate of Indian football changes for the good after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) sold its telecast and marketing rights to Reliance-IMG for a whopping Rs 700 crore for a period of 15 years on Thursday.

Bhaichung Bhutia.pic/getty images

An excited Bhutia told MiD DAY that the huge investment will spur professionalism into Indian football. "It's a wonderful moment for Indian football. This is the first step towards professionalism in the game here. I am also hopeful that our football infrastructure will now improve and that the national league gets more professional too," said Bhutia, the first Indian footballer to have played 100 international matches.

Bhutia heaped praise on AIFF president Prafful Patel for his role in making the deal possible, "I have full faith in our president Mr Prafful Patel. He is a very dynamic person and very crucial for our country's football," said the mercurial forward.

Bhutia, who along with defender Samir Naik, is being treated by Dr Kanan Pugazhendi in Chennai for a minor hamstring problem, is completely focussed on the upcoming January 7-29, AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.
"The Asia Cup is a very big tournament for us. Of course, we will be facing very strong opponents but we are ready for it," he said.

About his fitness he said: "Within 3-4 days, I will be ready for the upcoming Asia Cup tournament. I am recovering very quickly. I am ready to play in the Asia Cup.

"We realise that our opponents in the Asian Cup are tough -- India are placed in Group C alongside Korea Republic, Australia andu00a0 Bahrain -- but we also have some talented names in Like Mahesh Gawli, Climax Laurance, Sunil Chettri, etc and believe in ourselves."