Kalyan Chaubey, a former goalkeeper and BJP leader from Bengal, is the new president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). He defeated former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia 33-1 at the elections held in New Delhi on Friday.

Chaubey’s victory was not a surprise since his candidature was backed by Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh, but the fact that Bhutia did not even get one of the votes of his proposer/seconder showed the humiliation heaped on one of India’s most decorated footballers.

NA Haris, the Karnataka football head, was elected vice-president defeating fellow Congressman Manvendra Singh, who is believed to be close to ousted president Praful Patel, 29-5. Manvendra’s Rajasthan Football Association had backed Bhutia and interestingly he got more votes than Chaubey’s challenger.

Kipa Ajay, from Union law minister Kiren Rijuju’s state, Arunachal Pradesh, is the new treasurer as he beat Gopalakrishna Kosaraju of Andhra 32-1. “The battle now is to revitalise our football. The rot that set in will have to be cleaned up as early as possible,” Chaubey told The Telegraph.

Challenges ahead

The federation’s first player-president has his task cut out though. The cash-strapped state associations who backed him will expect funds for the development of the game as promised by him in the buildup to the elections.

The sports ministry reduced football’s budgetary allocation by 85 per cent and it will be a challenge for Chaubey to get an increase. Being the BJP man in the hot seat, he may be able to bring in funds.

Drastic improvement at the grassroots level, adhering to the AFC roadmap which talks of a unified league with promotion/relegation, addressing the perennial problem of lack of coaches and the curse of age fraud... Chaubey and his men will have their hands full. “I am not here to sell dreams,” Chaubey said.

Buzz of secretary post

Football Delhi president Shaji Prabhakaran is set to become the general secretary. “He is the best person for the job,” M. Satyanarayan, secretary of the Karnataka State Football Association, said.

Prabhakaran’s good relations with Fifa and Asian Football Confederation make him the ideal choice even though Chaubey said “nothing was finalised” yet. Bhutia, IM Vijayan, Shabbir Ali, Climax Lawrence (male), Tabadi Devi and Pinki Bompal Magar (female) are the six eminent players co-opted as executive members. Former India captain Vijayan is likely to be the chairman of the technical committee. Former India player Eugeneson Lyngdoh could also find a place in the committee. The new office-bearers will have a meeting in Calcutta on September 17-18.