Baichung Bhutia played his last international match in the Asian Cup most probably in February. And now the veteran striker is getting the message that interim national coach Armando Colaco wants to move on with the younger crop of players.

The India captain doesn’t look like being in Colaco’s scheme of things and Bhaichung Bhutia seems to have accepted that the transition phase in Indian football has begun.

“I believe that Jeje Lalpekhlua and Sunil Chhetri are the best strike partners in the country,” Bhutia said. Both the players are being regarded as one of the emerging stars and the most consistent performer.

Incidentally, Colaco had made it clear during his interactions with media that he wouldn’t like to disturb the upfront combination comprising Jeje and Sunil. It might mean curtains for the most charismatic and longest-serving captain of the Indian football team.

When asked about his retirement, the 35-year-old informed that he doesn’t have any immediate plans of retirement.

“I am certainly not retiring in the coming season,” he replied.

Bhutia’s primary endeavour currently is to ensure his own club United Sikkim play in the top tier of the I-League.

“I would be playing for United Sikkim in the coming season. Want to see them playing in the I-League,” the Sikkimese sniper added.

The executive committee of the AIFF appointed Colaco as the interim coach for the team’s World Cup qualifiers against United Arab Emirates and couple of international friendlies prior to that.

With inputs from PTI

 

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