Sunil Chhetri – The Business Daily

“It May Come On A Day When…”: India Football Great Sunil Chhetri Opens Up On “Last Game For The Country”

The Business Daily — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 04:35:04 +0000

Read Time:2 Minute, 17 Second

Sunil Chhetri is 38 but still continues to be the spearhead of Indian attack, evidenced by the five goals he netted in the ongoing SAFF Championship from three matches.

India skipper and mercurial striker Sunil Chhetri on Friday played down the talks about his retirement saying he has not put any timeline for himself to bid adieu to the game. Chhetri is 38 but still continues to be the spearhead of Indian attack, evidenced by the five goals he netted in the ongoing SAFF Championship from three matches. “I don’t know when my last game for the country is going to be. It derives from the fact that I have never had long-term targets, I think about next match, next 10 days. It (retirement) may come at a day when probably I don’t want to, as there are a lot of things, and I will be done. Till that time, I never think about it,” Chhetri said on the eve of India’s semifinal against Lebanon.

Chhetri, the second highest goal-scorer from Asia with 91 goals, said he has set some parameters for himself to determine about hanging his boots.

“Generally, there are some parameters that I think about… whether I am contributing to the team or not, whether I am able to score goal or not, training as hard as I want or not. These are some of the markers that will tell me whether I am good for this team or not. The day I see that it is not there, I am done, I am gone because there is not any other motivation for me to play.

“But sadly, I can’t tell whether it (retirement) is in one year or six months. Fortunately or unfortunately my family is also guessing this, and whenever they mention this, jokingly, I tell my stats to them. The day I am finished with my petrol or diesel or electric or whatever I am done,” said Chhetri.

Chhetri said Lebanon are a tough side and taking them for granted might backfire. He did not read too much into India’s 2-0 victory over Lebanon in the recent Intercontinental Cup final.

“Lebanon is a tough side. We have already played them twice. I’m pretty sure they have the same feeling about us and trying to stay calm. We did our best to recuperate after so many games in such short time,” said Chhetri.

India’s assistant coach Mahesh Gawli said the team is motivated and ready for the big test against Lebanon.

“Lebanon is a good side and we are prepared for the fight. The boys are motivated, the boys are committed, focused and will continue to the show the same metal which we showed in the previous matches,” said Gawli.

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‘India conceded the goal not Anwar’: Sunil Chhetri on Kuwait’s late equaliser at SAFF Championship

The Business Daily — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 06:14:00 +0000

Read Time:2 Minute, 12 Second

Not just Sunil Chhetri but Indian supporters present at the venue also graced the prodigy with “Anwar Ali” chants after the match.

India and Kuwait engaged in an enthralling 1-1 draw in the final Group A tie of the SAFF Championship 2023 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The Blue Tigers produced yet another impressive performance and just when it felt that India will end the contest with a positive result, an own goal by centre-back Anwar Ali forced the match into a draw.

India broke the deadlock at the stroke of halftime when a corner coming from the right landed perfectly for an unmarked Sunil Chhetri inside the D, who then found the back of the net with a perfectly timed volley.

The second half saw tensions flare in both camps as India head coach was shown his second red card of the tournament. The trouble continued and Rahim Ali and Kuwait’s Hamad Al Qallaf were also given their marching orders in the 90th minute.

Kuwait then found an equaliser in the stoppage time as a low cross coming from the right took a deflection from Anwar’s leg and settled in the far corner of the post, leaving Amrinder Singh with no chance of saving the ball.

Chhetri, India’s captain, was disappointed with the outcome but backed his teammate and defender Anwar. He said an error such as this can happen to anyone. On being asked to share his thoughts on Anwar conceding the goal in injury time, the captain said: “It’s not Anwar, it is the country that conceded.”

“It can happen to anyone. We didn’t even talk about it now (after the match) and we are all professional enough to not talk about it. I hope the kid shrugs it off, we all have his back as it can happen to anyone,” he added.

Chhetri stated the team doesn’t take technical mistakes seriously and showed confidence in his teammate to bounce back stronger.

“Technical mistakes are something that we don’t take it too seriously, we just work on our effort. Sometimes I have missed some silly goals that I shouldn’t have missed, somebody’s going to make a silly challenge and we’ll get a penalty. It happens in football. So technical mistake is something that we don’t take too seriously. I’m pretty sure he’s going to work on it and it’s gone. India conceded the goal not Anwar,” the captain said, who now has 92 international goals under his name.

Not just Chhetri but Indian supporters present at the venue also graced the prodigy with “Anwar Ali” chants after the match.