ISLW

Bio

Kunzang Bhutia is one of the emerging goalkeepers of the country and is good in the air and nimble on his feet. Bhutia started playing football in 2004 in dire circumstances in his native Lachung and is the only professional footballer from his village. He had taken part in an under-14 football tournament in school and played as a defender and got selected for the under-16 state team in 2006 and 2007. It was the state coach who instructed him to become a goalkeeper. He started off with the Sports Authority of India in 2007 and represented Sikkim before joining Royal Wahingdoh for two years and then moving over to Shillong Lajong. The youngster was a part of Northeast United FC in the inaugural ISL season, which paved the way for a professional debut for Shillong Lajong in the 2014 Federation Cup. He also made five appearances in the Hero I League, which was enough to earn him a call up from reigning champions Atletico de Kolkata for the 2015 ISL Season. He has stayed on with the defending champions for the upcoming season as well.