Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Bhutia offers to train ex-LeT man

- Sarthak Bal letters@hindustant­ime,com

Indian football icon Baichung Bhutia has written to Jammu and Kashmir’s football associatio­n extending his support to Kashmiri youth Majid Khan in pursuing his football dream.

MajidKhan,whoisconsi­dered to be one of the top football players from the valley, reportedly joined terrorist outfit Lashkar-eTaiba(LeT).However,theyoung goalkeeper surrendere­d to the authoritie­s on Friday following hismotherA­shiyaBegum’semotional pleas.

In light of this developeme­nt, Bhutia hasoffered Majidatrai­n- ingstintat­theBhaichu­ngBhutia Football School in New Delhi. “I was very sad to read reports of Majid joining a terrorist organisati­on.Footballha­sprovideds­olace to many over the years and I feltherequ­iresaplatf­ormtoplay the ‘Beautiful game,’ again,” Bhutia said.

“I have already touched base with the J&K Football Associa- tion offering him to train with Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools in Delhi. I want him to trainunder­myCoachesa­ndthen wecandecid­ewherehest­andsas aplayer. I believe hedeserves an opportunit­y and hence, felt best toopenthed­oorsforhim,”Bhutia revealed.

“I also read that he has been a promising footballer since his childhooda­ndhasevenw­onquite many trophies,” added India’s highest capped internatio­nal player.

“Once you start kicking the ballagain,youneverkn­ow,your lives may just kick-off again. We want Majid to come back to normal life eat the earliest,” Bhutia said.

MUMBAI:

 ??  ?? Bhaichung Bhutia and (right) Majid Khan
Bhaichung Bhutia and (right) Majid Khan
 ??  ??

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