Namchi: Bhaichung Bhutia becomes the first footballer in India to get a stadium named after him. Bhaichung Stadium was inaugurated Sunday at Namchi in Sikkim.
Expressing his gratitude for the honour, the ace footballer shared, “The stadium is a gift for the people of Namchi, from the government of Sikkim. It has been named after me, and I am very honoured. The stadium is very beautiful. The stadium will not just be for the players, but I am sure it will be a tourist destination too.”
“Thank you to the current Sikkim government as well as to the previous government. Everyone is involved and in the past I have always expressed to not politicise the stadium. Whichever government or party, this is an asset of government of Sikkim as well as for the nation,” Bhutia added.
The Padmashri recipient, who has ventured into politics in Sikkim since 2019 elections, kept politics away as he was invited by the Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay-led government for the inauguration.
He shared, “”This is above politics, it should not be mixed and I am glad that it has not. This is about the stadium, I think one of the most beautiful. Now is to get good teams, ISL or I-League tournaments. It’s a personal dream to get Messi or Ronaldo in the next 10-15 years. Yet, I would love to see United Sikkim also play in ISL at Bhaichung Stadium, it has been my dream.”
The former Indian football captain opened his door for grooming talents from Sikkim. “We must work to produce players, host tournaments and matches. We must all try, from my personal level, to Hamro Sikkim Party or the United Sikkim Football Club, which we have been running for 15-20 years now. We have tried to produce players. We have given our time, effort and expense to run a club. From my or USFC’s side if there is any help needed for players or tournaments, our doors are always open,” he said.
Former Indian footballers Sanju Pradhan and Nirmal Chettri, who were also in attendance, expressed their gratitude for the stadium, acknowledged on the delay and missed opportunities for many good footballers in the state for a good decade.
“We would have produced so many great players if the stadium was in existence in the past. A whole decade was lost in the construction. We are immensely happy for Agya (brother) Bhaichung, he becomes the first footballer after whom a stadium is named and constructed. But, we also would like to see more of such stadiums develop in every district of Sikkim. We can certainly grow into a footballing State in the future, welcoming tournaments like ISL and I-League in Sikkim,” they said.
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