The year was 1992. There came a boy who was lightning fast, agile, a quick thinker, and prolific with the ball. One after the other, he left his opponents in awe and the scouts on their toes
The year was 1992. There came a boy who was lightning fast, agile, a quick thinker, and prolific with the ball.
One after the other, he left his opponents in awe and the scouts on their toes. This is the Subroto Cup – one of India’s most prestigious school football tournaments. Like every year, senior football professionals attended the tournament to spot talented players.
Bhaskar Ganguly, the former Indian football captain, saw Bhaichung Bhutia that year and scouted him. Since then, he has never looked back.
Bhaichung debuted for the national team when he was 19, became the longest-serving football captain of the nation, played in the European league, and became one of the best Indian footballers of all time.
The ‘Sikkimese Sniper’, as he is fondly known, often recalls Subroto Cup as his launchpad. He emphasizes that the right exposure and guidance can change an athlete’s life.
In 2012, the first team of Bayern Munich, which consisted of Robben, Ribery, and the stars, flew to India for his farewell. That is the impact Bhaichung had on the national team and at the club level.
After retirement, in 2012, he started the Indian Football Foundation (IFF), a sister concern of Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools (BBFS), and a social initiative that works to uplift underprivileged talented footballers to have equal opportunities. IFF provides a platform for youngsters to train at BBFS Residential Academy and have a clear pathway to play professional football. Over the years, IFF has supported 350+ footballers and helped them pursue academics alongside football till the XIIth standard. This year, the team will scout more youngsters.
BBFS is organizing the largest trials across 100+ Indian cities reaching out to 10,000+ young footballers in 2022-23. The team will scout the best footballers and get them enrolled in one of the BBFS Residential Academies.
The selected players who do not have the means to fund their education will receive support in academics and football alongside their stay, food, and competitive exposure.
This Diwali, the team at BBFS and IFF have taken the pledge to put smiles on the faces of many youngsters who feel their dreams are never to be fulfilled. We need your support to help and make them feel otherwise.
If you or anyone in your network works in an organization that supports social causes related to sports, we are eager to connect and discuss. If you are interested in donating any amount for the youngsters, reply to this email, and someone from our team shall reach out to you.
Please spare a minute of your time to fill out this form and share your feedback with us regarding the initiative: Click Here.
Read more about BBFS Residential Academy
Be part of India’s largest football trials – #100Trials100CitiesUnlimitedDreams. Download enJogo from Android or iOS, and register now.
Read the last five editions from The Dugout:
#57 Garhwal Heroes FC clinch second spot in Delhi’s premier football league
#56 Developing next-gen Indian footballers with Vipin Anto
#55 Enjogo set to organize football trials in 100+ Indian cities
#54 Women’s Football: The next big opportunity in Indian sports
