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Born on 15th June,1976, to Mrs. and Mr. Sonam
Topden at Tinkitam, South Sikkim. At age 11 Bhaichung's on field
skill football earned him a SAI Scholarship at the Tashi
NamgyalAcademy, Gangtok. His spectacular talent earned laurels for
his school as he excelled in all the Public School Tournaments, and
the Subroto Cup, in particular. During his school days he was also
selected for the Gangtok based Boys Club managed by his mentor Karma
Bhutia and coached by Thupden Rabgyal. Besides his first love,
football, Bhaichung also represented his school in Badminton,
basketball and athletics. Unlike other prodigies Bhaichung's blaze
to glory has progressed steadily. In 1992 he donned the Indian
colours for the first time at under 16 Sub Junior Tournament at
Dacca. The same year he also represented his home State Sikkim at
the prestigious Governor's Gold Cup Tournament where he demolished
the likes of George Telegraph and Md. Sporting almost single
handedly, In the semi finals Sikkim lost to mighty Mohun Bagan in
the extra time.
In early 1993 Mr. Bhaskar Ganguly and Mr. Prasun
Banerjee, stalwarts of East Bengal Club, and undoubtedly two of
India's best footballers, contacted Mr. Karma Bhutia for Bhaichung's
debut into Calcutta Football. As he was just sixteen years old,
Bhaichung's parents left the decision solely to Mr. Karma Bhutia,
who then decided to enroll him with the East Bengal Club, a decision
that changed the Indian football scenario. All football fans will
remember Bhaichung's spectacular back volley at the Durand Cup in
November, 1993 which took East Bengal to title finals. Old timers
compared this to the uncanny similarity to Shyam Thapa's back volley
for Mohun Bagan against Mafatlals in the 1978 Durand Cup.
Alongwith Bhaichung's rise to fame, Sikkim too has
been favored with the limelight visitors to this tiny but exquisite
Himalayan State who invariably ask for his haunts. His proficiency
with the ball has earned him nicknames such as 'Wiz Kid', 'Crisis
Man', 'Man with the Golden Boot', 'Tinkitam Express', 'Wonder Kid',
'Boy Wonder', 'Scorpion' and many others. The celebrated
R.K.Laxman's cartoon of Bhaichung carried the caption 'Boy, Oh Boy'.
He moved to JCT Mills, Phagwara in 1995 along with
many other star players and helped them win the National Football
League. Top scoring in the NFL, he was picked to play for India in
the Nehru Cup the same year. In 1997, he returned to Kolkata to his
favourite East Bengal, and captained them in the 1998-99. He was
voted the 'Asian Player of the Month' in May 1999, and during the
same year won the Sikkim State Award and the Arjuna Award.
Baichung, looking for professional exposure in Europe, gave
trials for several English clubs, but failed.
Eventually, Bury FC, an English second division club, signed him up.
He improved by leaps and bounds during the short stint at Bury and
profited from the superior strategy and fitness training of the
foreign coaches employed by the Indian team in the new millennium.
He has thrived under the influence of the present India coach,
Stephen Constantine and this has made a big difference to the Indian
team's fortunes in recent years.
Playing under the guidance
of former India striker, Subhas Bhowmick, he recently won for East
Bengal the Asean Cup Club Championship almost single-handedly.
Baichung has signed up with Malaysian champion club, Perak, to play
in their league this year and has already made a difference to their
fortunes despite taking ill a few days after moving in. Baichung's
genial nature is matched with a great determination to succeed and
an intense killer instinct that is alien to Indian sport. |
