Bhaichung Bhutia to play his last I-League match while representing East Bengal

Bhaichung Bhutia presented as an East Bengal player.

Former Indian captain and one of the greatest footballers to have been ever been produced in the country, Bhaichung Bhutia will be donning the iconic red-and-gold jersey once again as he prepares to play his last match in the I-League for East Bengal.

Bhutia’s testimonial match saw him wear the Indian jersey in an exhibition match against Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in 2012, but the Sikkim-born player now wishes to retire officially as an East Bengal player, the club he had joined when he was 16.

"I've earlier promised that I want to retire in an East Bengal jersey but it could not happen as I suffered an injury,” he was quoted by FirstPost as he told reporters on Tuesday. “But this season, I want to retire signing with East Bengal.”

"Still I'm not fully fit. I want to train and be fit and play. Even if, I'm playing my last competitive game, I want to play as a fit player. Knee is still not in best shape after the surgery. I want to fight and play maybe the entire second leg of the league but if it does not happen then at least for the last match,” he added.

Bhutia, aged 38, however acknowledges the fact that he may not be as fit as East Bengal manager Armando Colaco would want him to be for playing top-flight football, but he insists to work hard to justify his inclusion to the team.

"I'm not saying he has to include me. I should not be playing matches when I'm not fit. That will be unfair. If I'm fit, then you never know."

Post by Bhaichung Bhutia.