Indian football's most famous player says he is not done with international football just yet.
Bhaichung Bhutia, the 34-year-old striker and captain, was absent for the team's first two losses at the Asian Cup due to a calf injury. But he came on in the 79th minute of India's 4-1 loss to South Korea on Tuesday, the team's last match as it is already out of the tournament.
''It's a huge thing for me, coming all the way to the Asian cup,'' Bhutia said. ''It's a dream to play in the Asian Cup. It would have been a disappointment if I had not played.''
Bhutia's arrival in the game brought cheers from the several hundred, rain-drenched Indian fans. Coach Bob Houghton said the substitution gave a lift to his players, who he said were tired after being on the end of three lopsided matches in eight days.
''He means a lot, even today,'' Houghton said. ''He is quite an inspirational figure for us. He enlivens the other boys. They like playing with him. The crowd responds to him.''
In an interview with The Associated Press, Bhutia ruled out retiring after the Asian Cup adding that he will take the next two to three months to decide on his future.
''I would want to retire, you know, leading the team. Playing 90 minutes is what I want because I don't want to go out because of the injury,'' Bhutia said. ''But as I said, you never know. The next two, three months, I want to get back to fitness and I know for sure if I can keep myself fit and stay out of injury, I've still got a lot more to contribute.''
Bhutia is the first player from India to play in Europe, having played for English lower league side Bury from 1999 to 2002. He also had a short spell with Malaysian club Perak in 2003.
Bhutia has played 113 matches in 10 years with the national team, and was the first India player to score more than 50 goals.
And even though his team were outscored 13-3 in its three losses, Bhutia said the players had done themselves proud in India's first appearance at the Asian Cup since 1984.
''I thought we started slightly with a little too much respect to both the teams,'' Bhutia said, referring to Australia and Bahrain. ''But on the whole, I thought we came back very strongly in the second half.''
Bhutia's status in India as an athlete and ambassador for football has drawn comparisons with cricket great Sachin Tendulkar. However, the modest playmaker is uncomfortable with such comparisons, preferring instead to let his play speak for itself.
''I don't think you can compare each and every sports person with other ones,'' Bhutia said. ''Sachin plays a different game than I play. But obviously Sachin is a legend back home and, as I said, he not just inspires the young kids but also senior footballers like me as well.''
