Kunzang Bhutia
Kunzang Bhutia (born 3 January 1994) is an Indian professional footballer who last played as a goalkeeper for Hyderabad FC in the Indian Super League.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kunzang Bhutia | ||
| Date of birth | 3 January 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Lachung, Sikkim, India | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Sports Authority of India | |||
| Royal Wahingdoh | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2016 | Shillong Lajong | 6 | (0) |
| 2014 | → NorthEast United (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2015 | → Atlético de Kolkata (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2016 | Tollygunge Agragami | ||
| 2016–2017 | Fateh Hyderabad | 5 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | ATK | 0 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Churchill Brothers | 2 | (0) |
| 2020 | Hyderabad FC | 0 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 January 2020 | |||
Career
Born in Lachung, Sikkim, Bhutia was inspired by his uncle and aunt to play football.[1] He started playing the game as a defender before being converted into a goalkeeper. He led the Sikkim under-16 side during the junior nationals in Goa.[1] He then joined the Sports Authority of India and played matches for the academy in Delhi before joining the youth side at Royal Wahingdoh.[1] Bhutia then represented his state of Sikkim in the 2010 Santosh Trophy at the age of 17.[1] He then joined Shillong Lajong in 2013.[1]
Despite not playing a single match in the I-League for Shillong Lajong, Bhutia was signed on loan by NorthEast United of the Indian Super League.[1] After returning from loan, Bhutia made his professional debut for Shillong Lajong in the I-League on 28 March 2015 against Sporting Goa. He came on in the 52nd minute for forward, David Ngaihte, after Shillong's starting goalkeeper, Vishal Kaith, was sent off. Bhutia went on to play the rest of the match and not concede as Shillong Lajong drew the match 1–1.[2] After the season, Bhutia went out on loan again in the Indian Super League, this time to Atlético de Kolkata.[1] After returning from loan and playing the 2015–16 season with Shillong Lajong, Bhutia signed with Calcutta Football League side Tollygunge Agragami.[1]
In November 2016, Bhutia signed with I-League 2nd Division side Fateh Hyderabad.[1] He made his debut for the side in their season opener against Pride Sports on 21 January 2017. He started the match and kept the clean sheet as Fateh Hyderabad won 2–0.[3]
In July 2017, Bhutia was drafted by Indian Super League franchise ATK.[4]
Career statistics
- As of 22 April 2018[5]
| Club | Season | League | League Cup | Domestic Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Shillong Lajong | 2014–15 | I-League | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| 2015–15 | I-League | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| NorthEast United (loan) | 2014 | Indian Super League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Atlético de Kolkata (loan) | 2015 | Indian Super League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Fateh Hyderabad | 2016–17 | I-League 2nd Division | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| ATK | 2017–18 | Indian Super League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
References
- Subrahmanyam, VV (6 March 2017). "Kunzang Bhutia— Keen to carve a niche for himself". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
- "Sporting Goa 1-1 Shillong Lajong". Soccerway.
- "Fateh Hyderabad 2-0 Pride Sports" (PDF). All India Football Federation.
- "ISL 2017 DRAFT LIVE: COMPLETE LIST OF PLAYERS SIGNED". Goal. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- Kunzang Bhutia at Soccerway