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Sunil Chhetri. File
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
A 16-year-old Sunil Chhetri’s pleasure knew no bounds when he was handed over a token quantity of Rs 1000 for his first-ever contract with a Delhi-based membership, recalled his childhood coach Mohammad Sajid on Thursday.
The legendary Indian captain, who has introduced his retirement, started his journey by enrolling himself on the Mamta Trendy Senior Secondary College in Vikaspuri, the place he was noticed by Sajid.
It was Sajid who provided Chhetri his maiden membership contract price ₹6500 and the participant went on to make his first impression by profitable the rising participant of the yr award in his first season.
“Nageshwar Rao, a participant from our Metropolis Soccer Membership, facilitated my assembly with Sunil,” Sajid informed PTI in an unique interplay right here on the Ambedkar Stadium.
“I nonetheless bear in mind providing him a contract price Rs 6500 per yr and requested him to play within the Delhi League and the Durand Cup,” stated Sajid, who’s now the Metropolis Membership’s CEO.
“As quickly as I handed him the token (quantity) of Rs 1000, he was elated — as if he had acquired a cheque price lakhs of rupees. He was very glad and shared with me that with that cash he needed to present a deal with to his mates,” Sajid recollected.
“His (Chhetri’s) potential was unwavering and I felt it from the primary day that he should play exterior Delhi as an expert, which might be fruitful for him.” Chhetri went on to grow to be the main scorer for India with 94 targets in 150 matches.
“To see him play that degree makes us proud. He has performed for our membership (and) now he’s among the many top-three gamers for scoring most targets in worldwide soccer. He has labored actually onerous. Taking part in at that degree for therefore lengthy can be not a simple process,” Sajid stated.
Sajid additionally remembers Chhetri’s journey from Delhi to Mohun Bagan.
“I’m not in contact with Sunil however I nonetheless bear in mind the primary time I took him and an different participant, Manoj Joshi, to Kolkata in a prepare to enroll in Mohun Bagan in 1999.”
“Throughout that journey, I informed him (Chhetri) that he actually had a excessive potential and provided that he remained focussed, nothing would cease him from taking part in for India. He proved my phrases proper.” Sajid stated India should not have any participant to switch Chhetri.
“No, I don’t see any participant proper now to switch Sunil. Perhaps sooner or later, sure, however proper now, there isn’t a one.” Sajid additionally needs for Chhetri to step into the world of soccer administration after his retirement. “We simply need to see him be part of the AIFF and do one thing for soccer on this nation,” he stated.
