Veteran striker Sunil Chhetri gave teammates advice on Sunday to keep giving their all on the field and not to worry about FIFA’s threat to suspend Indian football.
FIFA earlier this month threatened to suspend the AIFF and revoke its right to host the women’s U-17 World Cup because of third party “influence,” issuing the threat just days after the Supreme Court ordered that the national federation elections take place.
However, the election process has now been launched by the Committee of Administrators (CoA) that the SC constituted. The voting is scheduled on August 28.
During a virtual media event hosted by his team Bengaluru FC in the run-up to the new season, Chhetri advised the guys not to pay it too much mind because it is out of their hands.
“Everyone who is participating is working hard to ensure that we will produce the greatest results possible.” Everyone is putting a lot of effort into it. We will ensure that we complete our work effectively in terms of the players. We need to ensure that you develop as a player. Put your best foot forward whenever you get the chance to represent your club or your country. Every single vertical in the AIFF is working as hard as they can to make sure they finish with flying colours, he claimed.
The FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup will be held in India from October 11 to October 30. Last month, the Union Cabinet approved the signing of guarantees for Bhubaneswar, Goa, and Mumbai to host the event. Bengaluru FC will play Jamshedpur FC on the second day of the Durand Cup, which will begin the season on August 16 in Kolkata. The Blues, who have won every major national championship since the team’s founding in 2013, will be eager to add the missing Durand Cup to their collection of trophies.
It’s “very, very meaningful” for Chhetri as well because he hasn’t won the oldest football tournament in Asia, which will be hosted this year for the 131st time. It’s really, really unique. It is among the oldest tournaments, which is a highly significant fact. But for me, more so. We haven’t won as a team, and I haven’t taken home the Durand Cup myself. I’ve had the good fortune to win a lot of competitions, nearly all the competitions one can win in India, and the Durand Cup is missing. The club will make every effort. Our young lads performed admirably last year; this year, we want to outdo that.
