<p> <br />Bhutia went down the memory lane as he recalled his starting days and fondly remembered his old friends and teammates.<br /><br />“It has been a long and wonderful journey,” said Bhutia, who received Rs 5 lakh, a plaque and a gold coin.<br /><br />“I dedicate this to all the players with whom I have played for the past 16 years. They have supported me during difficult times,” Bhutia said. “I started with East Bengal at the age of 16 from a salary of Rs 4,000, and how things have changed now. ” <br />Bhutia reserved a special thanks for coach Bob Houghton. “Without him, I would not have played 100 matches, because I wanted to quit and he convinced me to stay on,” said the 31-year-old. <br /><br />Bhutia is the 37th Asian and 152nd international footballer to have played more than 100 matches for his country.<br /><br />Patel elected president<br /><br />Union Minister Praful Patel was on Tuesday formally elected president of AIFF, thus ending the 20-year reign as head of the AIFF of Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi.<br /><br />Patel, the civil aviation minister in the UPA government at the centre, was elected to the top post unopposed at the Annual General Body meeting of the AIFF at its headquarters here. Patel had been the acting president of the AIFF since Dasmunsi suffered a cardiac arrest last October. <br /><br />The AGM also decided to appoint Dasmunsi as the honorary president of the AIFF.<br />On Bhutia’s feat, Patel said: “You have been the icon and one of the greatest players of India. Your commitment on the field has inspired millions of youngsters towards the game.” <br /><br />Meanwhile, Indian goalkeeper Subrata Paul has been chosen as the “Footballer of the year”.</p>
<p> <br />Bhutia went down the memory lane as he recalled his starting days and fondly remembered his old friends and teammates.<br /><br />“It has been a long and wonderful journey,” said Bhutia, who received Rs 5 lakh, a plaque and a gold coin.<br /><br />“I dedicate this to all the players with whom I have played for the past 16 years. They have supported me during difficult times,” Bhutia said. “I started with East Bengal at the age of 16 from a salary of Rs 4,000, and how things have changed now. ” <br />Bhutia reserved a special thanks for coach Bob Houghton. “Without him, I would not have played 100 matches, because I wanted to quit and he convinced me to stay on,” said the 31-year-old. <br /><br />Bhutia is the 37th Asian and 152nd international footballer to have played more than 100 matches for his country.<br /><br />Patel elected president<br /><br />Union Minister Praful Patel was on Tuesday formally elected president of AIFF, thus ending the 20-year reign as head of the AIFF of Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi.<br /><br />Patel, the civil aviation minister in the UPA government at the centre, was elected to the top post unopposed at the Annual General Body meeting of the AIFF at its headquarters here. Patel had been the acting president of the AIFF since Dasmunsi suffered a cardiac arrest last October. <br /><br />The AGM also decided to appoint Dasmunsi as the honorary president of the AIFF.<br />On Bhutia’s feat, Patel said: “You have been the icon and one of the greatest players of India. Your commitment on the field has inspired millions of youngsters towards the game.” <br /><br />Meanwhile, Indian goalkeeper Subrata Paul has been chosen as the “Footballer of the year”.</p>