25 August,2011 09:32 AM IST | | Ashwin Ferro
Among all the tributes and good wishes star footballer Baichung Bhutia would have received yesterday, soon after he announced retirement from a 16-year long international career, this one probably stands out. Former India captain and striker IM Vijayan told MiD DAY that the Sikkimese ace "is, was and will be India's best ever striker."
The compliment is special because Vijayan was once considered the face of Indian football before Bhutia took over as the country's poster boy for the sport. Vijayan was even titled India's 'Black Pearl' -- on the lines of Brazil's legendary three-time World Champion, Pele, who held a similar title.
Those were the days... Jo Paul Ancheri, Baichung Bhutia and IM Vijayan
share a happy moment in Mumbai in 2001. pic/suresh kk
Opportunist
"I was probably more versatile in the sense that I played across the field -- sometimes in midfield and sometimes in as a withdrawn attacker, etc. But Baichung has been an all-out striker. Inside the striking box or penalty area as it is also refereed to -- Baichung was the best. He was a thorough opportunist and pounced on even the slightest opening to convert it into a goal. He was also one of the better skippers Indian football ever had," said Vijayan, who played with Bhutia at the club, state and national level.
"Together Baichung, Jo Paul Ancheri and myself used to have a lot of fun during India camps. But on the field, we were equally serious," said Vijayan. "Our playing format was based on dual strikers, so it was always Baichung and me up front. And the tendency in such a format, is that strikers sometimes get a little selfish in a bid to get their name on the scoresheet for all the press publicity that follows. But with Baichung and me, that was never the case. He treated me like an elder brother and together we scored a lot of goals. I've even lost count now," said Vijayan.
Nayeemuddin unfair
The Kerala ace however, was disappointed with former coach Syed Nayeemuddin's remarks about Bhutia. On Tuesday, Nayeemuddin called Bhutia a traitor and accused him of rigging a match against lower-ranked Yemen during the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in 2006. "He conspired with the players ufffd he has ditched the country. It was unbelievable, and now he is being projected as a football icon in India," Nayeemuddin had said.
"This is really sad. Appreciation and criticism is part and parcel of every sportsman's life, but we consider our coaches to be like our fathers and respect them. So, for Nayeemuddin to malign Baichung's reputation like this in public is unfair. Baichung is a nice guy," added Vijayan.
Bhutia will continue to play club football for United Sikkim
Football Club.
