SHYAM THAPA TIPPED TO REPLACE BHUTIA

KOLKATA: Shyam Thapa may replace Bhaichung Bhutia as head of the technical committee of the All India Football Federation. A source in the federation, speaking over phone from Delhi, said the committee is likely to retain only two of its 10 members at Thursday’s executive committee of the AIFF in New Delhi.

The source said only Henry Menezes and Abhishek Yadav, the COO of the India team for the U-17 World Cup, are likely to stay in the committee that plays a role in choosing the national team coaches and was headed by Bhutia so far. Thapa, a member of the 1970 Asian Games bronze medal winning team, has played for East Bengal and Mohun Bagan and is known for his scissors-kicks. Thapa came to Kolkata in 1966 and joined East Bengal before shifting to Mumbai to play for Mafatlal Mills. He returned to East Bengal in 1975 and switched to Mohun Bagan in 1977 ending his club career with that club.