XtraTime Web Desk: One can think it’s a miracle, as there is not much popularity of football in India compare to cricket. But the tickets of the match between India and Kenya have officially been sold out.
Sunil Chhetri who has been regarded as the nation’s one of the greatest footballers, recently posted a heartfelt message to all the fans of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Cristiano Ronaldo– “abuse us, criticise us but please come to watch the Indian national team play.”
In the first match the India skipper scored a hat-trick in an almost empty stand of the Mumbai Football Arena (MFA). After the match he asked the fans to come to watch the Indian Football team play at the stadium. He further added that they can criticize the team but they must come at the stadiums to see their team playing.
“To all of you, who have lost hope or don’t have any hope in Indian football, we request you to come and watch us in the stadium,” the skipper said.
This is nothing but a small plea from me to you. Take out a little time and give me a listen. pic.twitter.com/fcOA3qPH8i
— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) June 2, 2018
Chhetri also had a request for all the arm-chair critics of Indian football — please abuse but make the ‘Blue Tigers’ feel relevant. “I mean it’s not fun to criticise and abuse on internet. Come to the stadium, do it on our face, scream at us, shout at us, abuse us, who knows one day we might change you guys, you might start cheering for us. You guys have no idea how important you guys are and how important your support is,” the skipper appealed.
Following Chhetri’s video, Indian cricketer Virat Kohli took to social media and asked everyone to show support. In his video message, Kohli said, “In support of what my good friend and Indian captain Sunil Chhetri posted sometime back, I want to request everyone to go and watch Indian football play. Anyone who loves any kind of sport, go and cheer for the team in the stadiums because they are working hard, they are a talented team and I have seen these players evolve and learn over the last few seasons and get so much better at their game.”
Please take notice of my good friend and Indian football skipper @chetrisunil11‘s post and please make an effort. pic.twitter.com/DpvW6yDq1n
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) June 2, 2018