Bhutia winds up Perak stint on a sad note

Bhaichung Bhutia would have preferred a better end to his stint with Perak FC. His club’s 1-3 loss to Sabah in the return-leg of the Ma...

Bhaichung Bhutia would have preferred a better end to his stint with Perak FC. His club’s 1-3 loss to Sabah in the return-leg of the Malaysia Cup semi-finals culminated in the ace striker’s Malaysian sojourn.

Talking to The Indian Express, Bhutia said it has been a forgettable weekend for him. First came the news of his club, East Bengal’s loss to Mohun Bagan in the IFA Shield final and it was followed by Perak’s defeat.

It meant a double blow for Bhutia but the star striker is relaxed. ‘‘I know in tough times no news seems to be good. But I am sure things will change.’’

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For Bhutia, more than the disappointment of not reaching the Malaysian Cup final, it was the fans that bothered him the most. ‘‘I feel for them. They surely had high expectations. Many wept and stood in awe after the match. It was a disappointing situation. The team made a few mistakes and got severely punished for it,’’ Bhutia added.

Asked about his individual form in his final game, Bhutia is honest to say that he was ‘‘the villain of the piece.’’ Giving details, he adds: ‘‘I missed at least three chances.’’ His only notable contribution in the game was a ‘‘cross that got us the goal.’’

So where does Bhutia go from here? ‘‘I am now looking forward to preparing for the Afro-Asian Games.’’

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