Sunil Chhetri makes emotional plea to Indian football team fans - Watch video
Sunil Chhetri took to social media to ask the fans to back their team at this critical juncture for Indian football.
Sunil Chhetri, the Indian football team skipper, made an emotional appeal to football fans across the country, asking them to fill the stadiums in ongoing Intercontinental Cup 2018 and support the home team.
The 33-year old striker, who scored a hat-trick against Chinese Taipei in the tournament opener in Mumbai on Friday, took to social media to ask the fans to back their team at this critical juncture for Indian football.
“…Today I am not making a video for you guys. I am gonna speak and appeal to all of you who did not come. To everyone who is not a football fan, please come and watch us for two reasons. No. 1 – it’s the best game in the world and No. 2 – we play for our country. We will make sure that once you come to watch us, you will not return the same person back home,” he said in the Twitter video.
Chhetri also addressed those who have lost faith on the national team and asked them to criticise them in the stadium to help the players improve. “To all of you who are fans of big European clubs and support European clubs with so much passion, thinking that the level is not the same. Agreed, the level is not the same, it is not even close. But with our desire and determination, we will make sure to make your time worth. To all of you who have lost hope, I request you to come and watch us in the stadiums,” he said.
India are currently competing in the Intercontinental Cup 2018 along with Chinese Taipei, New Zealand and Kenya. They started the campaign with a brilliant 5-1 win over Taipei and will now face Kenya on June 4. Chhetri asked the Indian football fans to support them during the tournament.
READ | Why Sunil Chhetri didn’t celebrate wildly after hat-trick vs Chinese Taipei
“To all of you fans that could not come or did not come due to delay, work and school, please come and watch us in the stadiums. You guys have no idea how important you are and your support is. So today I am requesting all of you to come support us on 4th, 7th and hopefully 10th June when we are playing in Mumbai. Encourage us, watch us, abuse us, criticise us, talk about the game, go back home and have discussions, make banners but please get involved.”
“This is a very important time and juncture in Indian football and football in India needs you guys. So here am requesting you - come and support us, in Mumbai and wherever we play. Jai Hind,” he added.
