Kolkata. The Salt Lake Stadium was packed to the brim but there was still a feeling of emptiness because Sunil Chhetri, who has been the breath of Indian football for the last 19 years, was playing his last international match. Thousands of spectators had reached the stadium to bid farewell to Chhetri. Most of them were wearing the star striker’s jersey number 11. There was also a pang in their hearts that now they will not see their favorite player representing India.
Chhetri had already announced that the World Cup qualifier against Kuwait would be his last match at the international level and that was why none of his fans wanted to miss watching him play his last match for India.
Chhetri, who was sitting next to the driver, was the first to get off the bus. After getting off the bus, Chhetri went to ‘Lozenge Mashi’ Jamuna Das, who has been a witness to every match played on this ground and is a supporter of East Bengal. Chhetri hugged her and then walked towards the ground.
As soon as he reached the field, the tricolour started waving all around and the chant of Chhetri Chhetri started echoing in the stadium.
A huge poster was put up in the stadium which read in Bengali, ‘Sonar Sunil. Tomay Hrid Mazhare Rakhbo’ (Sweetheart Sunil, I will keep you in my heart.) Apart from this, many other posters were also hoisted in which Sunil Chhetri was praised.
Chhetri, standing behind goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh, was also seen singing the national anthem loudly. Earlier, All India Football Federation President Kalyan Chaubey and state Sports Minister Arup Bhattacharya welcomed him.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote in her post on Instagram, “Welcome Sunil Chhetri to a wonderful new journey. A new phase of your life is starting from today. You have been the golden boy of Bengal, captain of the Indian team, a sports icon of Asia, a world-class goal scorer and a player who has achieved many achievements. I am confident that you will continue to play in future as well.”