AIFF flip-flop may cost Bhaichung a place in Asian Cup team (Roundup)

DOHA - In a comic flip-flop, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has tied itself in knots by registering injured captain Bhaichung Butia first as a player and then as a technical official for the Asian Cup. Now sensing he could after all be fit to play the last two games, the team management is desperately trying to re-register him as a player.

A top official in the team management, on the condition of anonymity, told IANS that coach Bob Houghton was not sure of Bhaichung’s fitness and wanted him as a technical official. Bhaichung has not recovered from his calf muscle injury and has played just 30 minutes for the national team in the last 18 months.

“Houghton felt as a technical official, Bhaichung would have access to the dressing room and could have helped the team in forming the strategy. But now the coach feels Bhaichung can be a part of the team and we have sent a request to the AFC to get him registered as a player again,” a top official in the team management told IANS.

AIFF secretary-general Kushal Das confirmed that the team management has written a letter to AFC seeking permission for Bhaichung’s re-inclusion as a player, but was not hopeful since the rules may not permit the India captain to be a player once he has been de-registered.

“The team manager has written a letter to the AFC to check if in any way we can include Bhaichung as a technical official if he is ruled out. But it will be tough, since Bhaichung has been registered as player,” said Das.

Das said that a final call will be taken Sunday, on the eve of India’s first encounter against Australia at the Al Sadd Stadium here.

I-League’s top scorer and Churchill Brothers striker Mohammad Rafi, who has been put on stand-by for the captain, is travelling with the team and will replace Bhaichung if he is ruled out.

Bhaichung, however, doesn’t want to lose hope.

“I am still giving myself two-three days. We can make a change even six hours before the match and Rafi is travelling with us. So even if I am out, Rafi will be leading the attack with Sunil Chettri,” Bhaichung told IANS.

“Missing the Asian Cup would be a disaster for me,” he added.

Given that he might not make it to the first match, Bhaichung is trying hard to be fit for the remaining two matches against Bahrain (Jan 14) and South Korea (Jan 18).