×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Laos match is massively important: Chhetri

A win will allow us to play close to 8 games, says skipper
Last Updated 31 May 2016, 18:09 IST

Sunil Chhetri has been part of the Indian football side for long enough to know where the stakes are really high. And if the skipper insists that the Asian Cup qualifier play-off against Laos is ‘massively important’, then it suggests the magnitude of the contest.

Ask the skipper about the importance of the tie, he just has one word to explain what he feels, ‘massive’. “We need to win this,” asserts Chhetri.

Having endured a dismal run in the joint qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup and the Asian Cup early this year, the Indians are now left with the only option of giving themselves a shot at a place in the qualifiers for continental event. India need to beat Laos in a two-legged play-off tie if they are to make it to the next round of the Asian Cup qualifiers. And Chhetri is confident that his side can do just that.

“I am really optimistic about our chances,” said the skipper.
“I am happy to see how seriously the guys (in the team) take their national commitments. It’s a big, big game. If we win against them (Laos), it will allow us to play close to eight games in the coming season and that’s something you want as a national side, play as many games as possible,” he explained.

Chhteri has already played against a handful of Lao’s players in the recent past when his club Bengaluru FC took on Lao Toyota FC in an AFC Cup group stage game. And the striker feels that their opponents won’t be an easy nut to crack.

“They’re a good side. I could make that out in our (Bengaluru FC) game against Lao Toyota FC. In fact the club’s captain also leads the national team and they had close to 7-8 international players in their ranks.

“Everyone one of us saw how good a side they were and how hard we had to fight to eke out a win. I don’t think it will be any different when we take on Laos too,” assured the 31-year-old.

While Chhetri has been the player to watch out for every time India play, this time the Lao outfit will also have to be wary of a certain Jeje Lalpekhlua. The Mizoram-born striker has been in sensational form this season, scoring goals at will and proving a headache for the opposition defenders. Chhetri hopes that his strike partner will continue his fine form with the national team too.

“I am so proud of him. It’s been really good to watch him in his prime,” said Chhetri.
“First time I saw him was in Malaysia, when he was called up for the national duty under our then gaffer Bob Houghton. He was a young boy back then and he really impressed us then with his skills. And now to see him do what he’s been doing since the ISL, into the I-League, the national team and now the AFC Cup, it’s just phenomenal. I just hope that he continues his good run with the national team too,” he stated.

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 31 May 2016, 18:09 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT