Start preparing team for 2017 U-17 World Cup: Bhutia

Former national football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia today said that the AIFF should start preparing for a quality team to play in the 2017 Under-17 World Cup so that India can compete against the top sides in the tournament to be hosted by the country.
"The preparation for the 2017 U-17 World Cup should start soon. We need time to prepare a competent team and it will only come up if we start early," Bhutia said at an event here.
"Top teams from around the world would be playing and a good team is needed from our side," he said.

Bhutia was participating in a programme -- One Goal Campaign -- a partnership between Asian Football Confederation, World Vision, Royal DSM, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and Asian Football Development Project which seeks to leverage the power of football to fight malnutrition and obesity in Asia.
The campaign, for which Bhutia was an ambassador, kicked off in India today.
Bhutia said India will be able to ready good stadiums for the 2017 World Cup.

"I think stadiums won't be an issue as we won't be constructing new stadiums. Refurbishing stadiums won't be a problem," he said.
Bhutia also advised the All India Football Federation to implement the recommendations of the Technical Committee he is heading.

"AIFF should act on the suggestion of the various committees, otherwise it's not done. Like the technical committee, we have met just once since last year. They (AIFF) should listen to us," he said.
Releasing a report titled 'Fuelling Asia's footballers for the future' on behalf of the One Goal campaign, Bhutia said, "As a footballer I know the importance of good nutrition from an early age. I am very proud to be associated with a campaign that encourages good nutrition for all children and I am happy to support it."
Former India international and Bhutia's one-time team-mate Renedy Singh signed the campaign ball to symbolically start off the initiative.