Chhetri's chutzpah on goal
The captain of the Indian football team and Bengaluru FC's skipper is clear about one thing to play good football for as long as he can.
Straight talking, words tumble out of Sunil Chhetri’s inherently football-dribbling mind as he gets busy with the Euro Cup 2016 where he is analysing the matches with greats like ex-Liverpool stalwart Robbie Fowler and Portugal’s and Barcelona’s Deco. If it’s Germany’s precision, faith in Spain’s tiki-taka, or what he thinks of the seamless passing, scrambling saves and lack of finishers in some teams, Chhetri analyses it like it is… no preamble and niceties. That is the Indian captain and highest goal scorer for India, Sunil Chhetri for you. But on the flip side, he is also that friendly fellow, ready with an anecdote, just as long as he is let loose on the football field to add to his tally of 50 goals for India and 83 for his clubs.
As a commentator, reveling in the highs, and decoding those angst-filled lows, Sunil brings the best of his knowledge to the telly, like he has brought his striker prowess to the game. The captain of the Bengaluru Football Club, comes from a Nepalese family of sports persons, so it is not surprising to see the sheer dedication, indelible ethic that only another sportsman (his father) can instill. His father and mother, KB Chhetri and Sushila Chhetri, were footballers, his dad played for the Indian Army, while his mother was in the Nepalese national team.
His sisters, too, Sunanda and Sasha were members of the Nepalese Women’s Team. So this apple didn’t fall far from the tree, but created his own credible identity. Sunil is thankful, “My parents, they watch my matches and my father is also my biggest critic — he seldom praises me, though my mother is a die-hard fan and that keeps me balanced. I am thankful to mum and dad. My mother played for the Nepal national team and my dad in the army football team. Very few individuals are as fortunate as I am, to be working in a career and loving every minute of it. My father has played a vital role as a mentor and friend,” says the striker who was instrumental in India’s 2007, 2009 and 2012 Nehru Cup win.
The AIFF Player of the Year in 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2014 speaks of his fondest memories, “When I played a friendly against Manchester United in 2010, and we beat them, it was a high like no other,” of the match where Chhetri came in the second half for Kansas City Wizard’s surprise 2-1 win over Manchester United. The Nepalese from Delhi had a memorable meeting with Nani, the Portuguese player. He also counts Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Ronaldo from Brazil his favourite players. With a fledgling international career, Sunil started his career with Mohun Bagan, and then went on to JCT, East Bengal and Dempo, with the Kansas City Wizards, and Sporting Club De Portugal abroad for a short stint. He is humbled by his interactions with players like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, “They are so down-to-earth,” he says.
On a high after the BFC’s silverware, he celebrated with the team that has become family, giving all the credit to the team, its erstwhile thinking manager Ashley Westwood. As part of I-League’s Mumbai City FC, he hopes to shine on. What can Indian football look forward to, given the bottomless chasm it has to fill, Sunil is thoughtful, “For BFC, Ashley Westwood has helped immensely and one can see that infrastructure in football has changed, there is a popularity to the game. I don’t want to get into comparing. I just want to play good football for my country,” he says. Winning the league with BFC is a high he will cherish, “Such highs in football happen once in a lifetime and you have to grab hold and make the most of the opportunity.”
The footballer who loves to sleep when he is not being playmaker, says, “My friends want to go out, and they tease that too much work makes me a dull boy. I am happy to stay home as I get to meet my parents once in 18-20 days, so I am not allowed to go out as my mother stands vigil, like a girl-friend!” he laughs, “I am fortunate to have good friends who keep me grounded like Sonal Lamba,” he adds, “When I represented India early on, and by the grace of God, I scored a goal. Of course, when India qualified for the Asia Cup and won 4-1 is another moment indelibly imprinted, as I scored a hat trick.”
The Arjuna Awardee feels that is was special, and seeing his mum cry with joy was undoing. Not many know that Chettri is quite the bathroom singer too. He laughs, adding, “I don’t care if I am the worst singer, I will sing any way,” says the striker. All footie makes Sunil quite a perfectionist, and he admits that he hardly gets time for anything else though he loves long drives. The guy who is simple at heart loves watching telly but food is where he pulls out all stops, which is hard to believe given his small agile frame, “I love food, I eat all kinds of cuisines and it is such a shame that we have to maintain a diet — when I was young I lived to eat and it’s ironical that I love eating but have to douse it with restraint.” Ask him about his love life and marriage, and Chettri is closemouthed, he says, “I am thinking about it and it will probably be soon, though there is nothing concrete.”