Bangalore: Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri urged the entire nation to root for his club Bengaluru FC (BFC) as they chase a historic final berth in the AFC Cup here Wednesday. They will face Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim FC – in a crucial Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup second leg semifinal. The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw.
Even if Bengaluru FC achieve a 0-0 draw, the away goal advantage will help them be in the summit clash, which no other Indian club side have been able to achieve ever before.
“To put it simply, this game will decide if Indian club football can write a new chapter in history or not. We’re on the brink of something special and it’s going to take a determined 90 minutes to set foot where no club from the country have done before,” Chhetri, the country’s highest scorer was quoted as saying Monday by ‘the-aiff.com’.
“But more importantly this is not just about BFC or Karnataka, this is about India. And that is exactly why me and my teammates have been so vocal about getting the country to rally behind us,” Chhetri added.
Chhetri has been a part of quite a few glorious moments in Indian football history both for his club as well as the country.
“At the club level this game is up there simply because of what we can achieve should things go our way,” pointed out Chhetri. “I’ve won major trophies with different clubs and I cherish every one of them. But to make the final of an Asian tournament will be up there with the best,” Chhetri added.
Press Trust of India