Chaubey becomes first player-president at AIFF
   Date :03-Sep-2022

Chaubey 
 
 
NEW DELHI, 
 
THE All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday got a former player as its president for the first time in its 85-year history when Kalyan Chaubey trounced the legendary Bhaichung Bhutia in the election for the top post here.
The 45-year-old Chaubey, who played as a goalkeeper, emerged winner with a comprehensive 33-1 margin — a result that was expected as former captain Bhutia did not have many supporters in the 34-member voters’ list, made up of state association representatives. Chaubey’s last two predecessors — Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and Praful Patel — were full-time politicians.
The ‘Sikkimese Sniper’, also 45, is one of the biggest legends in Indian football and his candidature had got the elections additional traction. Chaubey, a BJP politician who lost the last parliamentary election for the Krishnanagar seat in West Bengal, never played for the India senior team though he was in the squad on a few occasions.
He, however, played for India in age-group international tournaments. He was also a former goalkeeper at Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, both heavyweights in Indian club football with a rich legacy. In fact, Bhutia and Chaubey were one-time team-mates at East Bengal.