A fitting farewell for Bhutia: Medeira

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With Bhaichung Bhutia donning India colours for one last time on Tuesday, India coach Savio Medeira felt that there was no better way to bid adieu to the ace striker than face German giants Bayern Munich in a friendly.

As the national football team practiced at the Ambedkar Stadium here on Sunday, the 35-year-old had an air of resilience around him. Having announced his retirement last year due to chronic injuries, Bhutia now looked ready to take the final bow in front of his home crowd at the Nehru Stadium.

“The service Bhaichung has given to the country for the game cannot be compared with anybody. I am happy that he is playing his farewell match against a team like Bayern Munich. It is a fitting farewell for him,” Medeira said.

On Bhutia’s fitness, Medeira said the ‘Sikkimese Sniper’ seemed as sharp as he was during his heydays and hoped that he would be able to play the entire 90 minutes.

The coach also expressed his desire to see Bhutia assume the role of an administrator adding that “a man of his stature” would be an asset to the All India Football Federation.

“If he can give his time to the federation then he is the best man to carry us forward,” he said.

Even though Medeira agreed that Bayern Munich were the toughest opponents India had faced in the last two decades, he admitted that the experience would do them little good. “You cannot compare us to Bayern Munich in any sense. We cannot match their fitness or level of play.

“These matches won’t help in anyway but India won’t get such great opponents in future. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the players,” he said.

Bayern blanked Qatar Stars League second division club Al Sailiya 13-0 in a friendly on Thursday, but Medeira was not intimidated by the possibilities of what Tuesday’s match could turn into.

“If we make mistakes, Bayern will score goals — it’s as simple as that.” The Indian team will next head to Dubai or London in mid-February for a preparatory camp ahead of the AFC Challengers Cup to be held in Nepal in March.

Meanwhile, Bhutia said that even though he was mentally fit and prepared for the match, he was still unsure about his physical fitness.

“In terms of physical fitness I am not 100 per cent in the sense required to play against a top international side like Bayern Munich. But I will give my best,” he said.

“I will start the match for sure and want to play full 90 minutes but let’s see. The injury I had suffered is such that it can occur anytime,” he added.

Bayern Munich will arrive in the capital on Monday.