New Delhi, June 29: Quitting an idea he toyed with two years back is not in Baichung Bhutia's immediate scheme of things and the thirtysomething Indian football captain now wants to continue as long his body responds to the grinds of modern football.

In an interview with PTI, Bhutia said he is thoroughly enjoying the game and there is no question of bidding adieu as long as he continues to do so.

"Right now I am learning and enjoying my football, that is the important thing. When I go out for training, I am still feeling that I can work as hard as the younger players. So, as long as I feel I am working hard and learning football, I will continue to play international matches," the 31-year-old mercurial forward, who is here for the national camp in preparation for AFC Challenge Cup in Hyderabad next month, said.

"I cannot say I will play for two years, 10 years, or two months or three months. The time when I don't feel working hard or learning, I will retire," said Baichung, who was on the verge of retirement in mid 2006 after a series of poor performances by the Indian team in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

Baichung, however, is rankled by India's defeat in the final of the recent SAFF Championship, even though he asserts it would not affect the team's show in the all-important AFC Challenge Cup in Hyderabad next month.

"It was quite disappointing (to have lost to Maldives in the final). We were the best team (in the tournament), we played well and should have won it. But that is football and quite often the best team does not win.

"Now we should forget it and look forward for the AFC Challenge Cup. It is a very important tournament for Indian football. If we win the tournament, we will directly qualify for 2001 Asian Cup. It will be a huge leap for Indian football," he said.

He agreed with coach Bob Houghton that injury was the main reason behind India losing the SAFF final against Maldives.

"Injury was the key factor. We had six players injured and those who played in the final were not 100 per cent fit. Because of the schedule, the players could not get much time to recover -- in fact we had only one day to recover in between matches," he said.

The face of Indian soccer over the years, Baichung's refusal to carry the Olympic torch ruffled many a feather but the ace striker said he just went by his conscience and clarified he would have played in Beijing had India made the Olympic cut in football.

"It was a personal decision, I had followed my conscience and I have no regrets. Had I to play in the Beijing Olympics as a member of Indian football team I would have done that but I would not have taken part in the Olympic torch relay," said Baichung.

At the fag end of his career, Baichung gets a dream-come-true opportunity to rub shoulders with the likes of Kaka, Didier Drogba and Steven Gerrard in an international exhibition match in Munich on July 12 to raise funds for African children and the Indian captain says he has "options open" to organise similar endeavours for the underprivileged and needy.

"I have kept options open. You need to dedicate time for such things. Now I don't have time, maybe I will do these after retirement. Already I had conducted coaching camps for underprivileged children and AIDS infected children," he said.

Baichung and 26 other senior players, who are camping at Ambedkar Stadium here, will tour Portugal from July 3 for a 10-day training-cum-competition trip and on return will resume the camp from July 16.

India will play a friendly against Malaysia on July 22, at Hyderabad's Gachibowli Stadium, the venue of AFC Challenge Cup final round before the competition starts from July 30.