PANAJI
Ahead of his final international match, Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has reaffirmed his decision to retire. The crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait on June 6 at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium will mark the end of Chhetri’s illustrious international career. Chhetri made it clear that he has no plans to reconsider his retirement. Speaking at a pre-match conference, he emphasized that his focus is on India’s important game against Kuwait, not his farewell. "No sir, the suits are made. I am going to go and watch the boys play. I am not somebody who says something that comes to mind. I have thought about it a lot. For 19 years, I had a great ride. And this is it," Chhetri said.
The 39-year-old, who has been a key figure in Indian football for nearly two decades, expressed gratitude for his journey. "I've been here many, many times. I have been between you guys (the media) many times and I'm highly grateful, but it's time. And it's the right time. It's one of the biggest games. There couldn't be a better game for me to call it last, but I've had a great ride. I'm at peace from within and I gave it my everything. I played worst sometimes, I played good sometimes, but I had a great ride."
Chhetri stressed the importance of the upcoming match against Kuwait, stating that the team is fully prepared and eager to win. "It's not about me and my last match. I don't want to address it again and again. We really want to win this game. This is not going to be easy, but we are ready. We will have tremendous support. If we win tomorrow, we will almost qualify."
He also highlighted the recent positive developments in the team’s preparation. "Every day I talk to the boys, I keep telling them about this dream. The longer camp helps because we come from different mentality. It gives you much more time to work on details. It's not life-changing, but it lets you work on details. We're ready. The last 15-20 days have been really good. Thankfully, all of us are on the same page in terms of fitness. We all are ready."
Chhetri’s final match is set to be an emotional event, not just for him, but for Indian football fans everywhere.
