India's soccer icon Baichung Bhutia, who played a key role in East Bengal's ASEAN Cup triumph, on Wednesday said the big success in Jakarta was a 'small beginning' for Indian football, which could inspire the national team to achieve similar feats in international tournaments.
"This is a small beginning. You cannot expect one international victory to completely turn things around... but if clubs take right steps, focus on fitness of players, the soccer standard will definitely improve," Bhutia told newspersons at Kolkata.
Fitness, he said is the most crucial factor that could make a big difference in the country's prospects and performance in the international arena.
Equating India's LG Cup win in Vietnam last year with East Bengal's victory in the ASEAN Cup, the mercurial striker said the Indian national side also has the potential to make it big in foreign tourneys if clubs take care of the players' fitness throughout the season.
Asked to compare the national side with that of East Bengal - which has three foreign recruits - Bhutia said the Indian team also had very good players like Renedy Singh and I M Vijayan, capable of playing high standard soccer.
To a question, the star striker said he preferred Stephen Constantine to remain in charge of the national side while services of Subhas Bhowmick are important for East Bengal.
About his joining the Malaysian outfit Perak FC, Bhutia said, "They are taking me on loan for a period of two months. The club will also benefit from this in monetary terms. I will come back before the National Football League."
However, he said: "If they want me for a long term, they will have to wait till the next season."
Coach Bhowmick, commenting on the offer, said, "Personally I have no objection to his playing for the Malaysian club. If one player goes and plays in Malaysia, it will not only benefit him but his club here as well since the standard of soccer played there is above par."
Besides Bhutia, Bhowmick said, some clubs had shown interest in medio Sur Kumar Singh too.
While advocating for participation in more foreign tournaments, Bhutia said, "The domestic and overseas tourneys should be accommodated in a proper fashion in the soccer calender. Then, it will beneficial for players and clubs."
