Sunil Chhetri
Manisha Kalyan, Sunil Chhetri named 2021-22 AIFF Footballers of the Year
Manisha Kalyan and Sunil Chhetri have been named as the 2021-22 AIFF Women's Footballer of the Year and the 2021-22 Men's Footballer of the Year, respectively. The two stalwarts were nominated as winners by their respective national team coaches Thomas Dennerby, and Igor Stimac. While Manisha had won the Women's Emerging Footballer of the Year for last season, while this is the 7th time that Sunil won the award, having last won it in 2018-19.
Great opportunity for youngsters, says Sunil Chhetri in special message to Next Generation Cup participants
Bengaluru FC face former Premier League champions Leicester City FC's academy team while Kerala Blasters FC play Tottenham Hotspur in the opening round on Wednesday. The inspirational Sunil Chhetri shared a special video message wishing the coach, Naushad Moosa and his wards all the best, advising the players to enjoy the experience.
We just want to put our best foot forward against Hong Kong, says India captain Sunil Chhetri
The Indian team's final qualification game is also likely to be their most challenging. That's because India's next opponents, like them, are unblemished. The Group D final round match between the top two teams will determine who advances to the Asian Cup 2023 as group winner. Even the team in second place has a good chance of making it to the Asian Cup.
Asian Cup Qualifiers: We need to win against Hong Kong, says Sunil Chhetri
The 37-year-old added that the job is not yet done and the team needs to win against Hong Kong in the last group match. "We don't need to look at other groups, and other teams. Calculations can wait. We have our last match against Hong Kong, and we will go all out for a win," he said. The day coincided with talismanic skipper Chhetri completing 17 years in international football, an inspiration to every Indian player, as much as it is to every sporting fan.
Asian Cup Qualifiers: Chhetri, Sahal goals guide India to 2-1 win over Afghanistan
Sunil Chhetri struck his magic again with a swirling free-kick goal (85') but the Lions of Khorasan pulled one back within three minutes from a Zubayr Amiri free header (88') before Sahal Abdul Samad's prolific strike (90+2') sealed the deal for the Blue Tigers. Igor Stimac's men face Hong Kong in their summit clash of the third round of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers with the stakes being high for both sides.
Asian Cup Qualifiers: Skipper Chhetri's brace leads India to 2-0 win over Cambodia
Playing his 127th match, the 37-year-old Chhetri got his 81st international goal by scoring a 14th-minute penalty. However, he missed a couple of chances in the box, but managed to score his second goal of the match when he nodded home a Brandon Fernandes cross to secure the win for India and took his tally of international goals to 82. After winning the game, India now set their sights on Afghanistan, whom they meet at the same venue On June 11.
FIFA ban will be disastrous for Indian football and for me as well, says Sunil Chhetri
Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri, who is at the fag-end of his career, said that such a ban would be disastrous for Indian football players including him. "I hope everything will come out as good for the sport and the country does not get a ban," Chhetri said after the preparatory session ahead of the Asian Cup Qualifiers in Kolkata.
RFDL is the right step in the right direction: Sunil Chhetri
"There are so many players, especially youngsters, who do not get enough chances. Some of them when they do get it, they make the most out of it. Reliance Foundation Development League is the right step forward in the right direction. So many players of different teams who did not get enough chances in the ISL, played and are playing here. They can also look forward to playing 90 minutes in a competitive tournament," Chhetri, the Indian football icon and inspiration for budding footballers said.
Nepal's teamwork a worry for India's Chhetri ahead of SAFF final
"They (Nepal) may not have an extraordinary player in their ranks like an Ali Ashfaq in their ranks. But as far as attacking and defending are concerned, they do it as a team. They have been the best team that plays as a team in this Championship -- they fight as a team," said Chhetri.
Sunil Chhetri breaks Pele's record, says it is not important, there is no comparison
India skipper Sunil Chhetri, however, said he would not attach too much importance to overtaking Pele in the list of top scorers and would rather concentrate on coming up with his best performance for which team he was representing -- whether country or his club.
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