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XtraTime Web Desk: Indian Football Team captain Sunil Chhetri has condemned racism as a social evil and feel it comes from ignorance. Chhetri, who completed 15 years in international football, shared his thoughts on AIFF TV.

According to Sunil, “Racism comes from ignorance, at the end of the day. If I see someone being racist, I would get a hold of them and explain to them what they are doing is wrong.”

“It (racism) really hurts. There is absolutely no logic or truth behind it. It used to happen a lot before. But now we need to educate more people about it. Mankind owes it to its own evolution to rid this world of racism,” said the India captain.

“At the end of the day, everyone belongs to some colour, caste, or religion. So what is the point of demeaning a person from another community?”
.Chhetri, who completed 15 years in International Football on Friday, the second Indian footballer after Bhaichung Bhutia to achieve the feat, expressed his gratitude towards the people around him for helping him achieve this feat.

“The fact that I am here after 15 years, and few more left -- that’s my achievement. I don’t want to take credit alone for my achievement, everyone starting from on the pitch and off the pitch -- my family, my teammates. It’s very rare for any sport around the globe to play for 15 years for the country is very rare. I am very fortunate,” Chhetri who has scored 72 International goals so far, expressed.

Recalling his International debut against Pakistan in Qaetta on June 12, 2005, Sunil said, “To be honest, this strict Chhetri that you see today wasn’t so strict before. Nabi da and I were having biryani the evening before the match. After we got back, Sukhi sir (Sukhvinder Singh) called us up and told us that we will be starting,” Chhetri recalled.

“We couldn’t get any sleep that night. You can’t imagine what a moment that was. Both of us remember it so clearly. We always thought that we have to get our debut, and before the first day, the coach telling us that we would play was immense,” he smiled. “We were so happy. It will always remain one of the best days of my life.”

Sunil also shared his first experience with Bhaichung. According to Sunil, “When I first joined Mohun Bagan, he had just come back from England. I used to see him so dedicated and give everything in training- He told me then – ‘Don’t worry, you will never know how time passes. You will be there.’