Bhutia leads crowded field for prez, other players stay away

Panaji: Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia was backed by a male and female ‘eminent’ player for the All India Football Federation’s president post, but other footballers have distanced themselves from an administrative role.

The Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), now running AIFF, had come up with a draft constitution that reserved five spots for former players in the AIFF executive committee. Thirty-six players were also added to the electoral college for the first time, inviting objections, and later a ban, from FIFA, the governing body for world football.

On the final day of nominations, Bhutia – India’s second most capped footballer after Sunil Chhetri — threw his hat in the ring for the president’s post. For the five eminent players spots, Madhu Kumari (Bihar) was the lone contestant.

Four other spots in the executive committee reserved for eminent players will now go unfilled.

“The problem is that there is lot of confusion,” Bhutia told TOI on Friday. “A lot of players are not aware that they can (still) vote and contest, or that the players themselves can propose and nominate, without backing from state associations. I was also in two minds and got clarity only much later.”

Bhutia will be challenged by former India goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey, whose nomination was proposed by Gujarat and seconded by Arunachal Pradesh. The importance of the backing from politically-significant states for Chaubey, now a BJP leader who contested assembly elections in West Bengal, wasn’t lost on anyone.

Chaubey, though, is not part of the electoral college and cannot vote for himself.

The two former India players are joined by several state association representatives.

According to sources, Shaji Prabhakaran (Delhi), NA Haris (Karnataka), Ajit Banerjee (West Bengal) and Manavendra Singh (Rajasthan) all filed their nominations for the president’s post on deadline day.

For the first time in the federation’s 85-year history, the president’s post will see a woman candidate in the fray after Valanka Alemao, CEO of Churchill Brothers FC, was nominated by Sikkim FA and seconded by Daman & Diu.

Valanka, daughter of Goa Football Association (GFA) president and former chief minister Churchill Alemao, has also filed nominations for the posts of treasurer and executive committee member.

“The love that the states have for Churchill Bros is crazy,” said Valanka. “I am overwhelmed by their support. All of them have admired that I am the only woman in football administration. They have all pledged their support.”

Former India midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh, now an active politician, is among the candidates for an executive committee member.

He was handpicked as the Meghalaya FA representative after Larsing Sawyan was “deemed disqualified as per provisions of the draft Constitution,” for being part of the AIFF executive committee for three terms, the last two as vice-president.

“I think it’s important for former players to get themselves involved in state associations and help the game. They can make a difference,” said Lyngdoh.

If needed, elections will be held for president, one treasurer, five members from representatives of member associations and five eminent players.