Former Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia, who would be arriving Dimapur Saturday to participate in the ‘Young Leaders Connect’ to be held at Kisama October 3, Friday told Nagaland Post that the mission behind conference was to promote Northeast outside the region.
Baichung, also known as “Sikkimese Snipper” for his shooting skills in football, said the mission behind the Young Leaders Connect conference was to offer the NE region opportunity in terms of business investments, saying at the moment it was very difficult for people from outside the region to invest in NE.
He also said the symposium desired to see that the northeast region too receive opportunity in any field, adding that the region has a lot of potential in terms of business, tourism and the like.
According to Baichung, firstly the young people from NE region needed to consider themselves as mainstream and they should not always complain that they were being neglected.
He was of the view that even government of India needed to focus more towards NE and the people from the region at the same time should also open up by mixing with mainstream and achieve things. He said young people have a lot to play and that they needed to come into national scene and be a leader and take the region forward.
Baichung Bhutia, who announced his international retirement August last and opened his own football club, felt that football needed to spread throughout the country, saying north-east region in particular needed to be more organized by opening more better clubs. The 34-year-old Baichung said that that was the main reason why he thought Sikkim too should have football clubs.
Also, asked how he saw himself as a role model and an inspiration for the youths, Baichung said he cannot really consider himself as a role model but just a normal person.
He said the most important thing was to do well for himself, family and for the country and if he played well then that should inspire kids. “I think that’s more than enough and that’s what I feel great about,” says Baichung.
Baichung, when asked about his football mentor, said every coach whom he played had been great, adding it would be unfair to mention just one name.
Asked if he had heard of Dr. T. Ao, Baichung replied in affirmative, and said he was one of the great icons for the northeastern brood to follow, and believed Nagas should feel proud that Dr. T. Ao was from Nagaland.
‘Young Leaders Conference’ organized by the YouthNet-a nonprofit organization on October 3 at Kisama Kohima.
The conference will witness young leaders interacting with each other in the field of culture, education, politics, sports, social entrepreneurship, economics, diplomacy which will not only enhance association between the young leaders but also act as a stepping stone for carving out a long lasting contact.
Baichung has been nicknamed ‘Sikkimese Snipper’ for his shooting skills in football. He also became the first Indian footballer to play in a European Club as a professional footballer at the English Club Bury F.C in 1999. Off the field, he is known for winning the reality television programme ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’.
Baichung is bringing his football team Sikkim FC to Kohima for an exhibition match with LifeSports FC to raise funds for YouthNet Employment and Livelihood Fund.
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