Said to be “God’s gift to Indian Football” by I.M. Vijayan Baichung Bhutia was born in Sikkim to farmer parents. Despite representing his school in other sports apart from football such as basketball, badminton and athletics, Mr. Bhutia’s parents were not supportive of his interest in sports. But because of his uncle Karma Bhutia’s support Baichung Bhutia was allowed to continue with his interest in sports and at the young age of 9 years, he was able to gain football scholarship from SAI at Tashi Namgyal Academy