Kamlesh Barjati
Banned
- Joined
- 26 May 2011
- Messages
- 1,087
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New Delhi, Jun 17 (PTI) Star striker Sunil Chhetri is missing former captain Bhaichung Bhutia in the national football camp and said it would be tough for any player to fill in the shoes of a player of his stature.
Talking to the reporters after a brief training session at the Ambedkar Stadium here, Chhetri praised Bhutia for his contribution to Indian football.
"I am missing Bhai (Bhaichung). It''s difficult as I have never been in a national camp without bhai for the past seven years," Chhetri said on the third day of the camp in preparation for India''s 2014 World Cup qualifiers against United Arab Emirates next month.
"But it is going to happen. I spoke to bhai a few days ago. I have been with players of the stature of Vijayan and bhai but one day all will have to go. A Sunil Chhetri will also go after some years.
"What matters is how much contribution one has made to Indian football. I think bhai (Bhaichung) has done a lot for Indian football. It will be tough for the youngsters in the camp to fill in the shoes of bhai, or for that matter the senior players who are not here," Chhetri, Bhutia''s strike partner in the national team for many years, said.
Bhutia and 13 other senior players, who were in India''s squad for Asian Cup in January under Englishman Bob Houghton, were omitted from the camp after new coach Armando Colaco took over the reigns of the national team last month.
India are playing their first international match with a new set of players after Houghton was sacked but Chhetri was not unduly worried.
"We have a mix of experienced and young players. Many of us have done well in the I-League and I am hoping that we will do well against UAE in the World Cup qualifiers. We had lost 0-5 to UAE last year before the Asian Cup but this time we are hoping to do better," said Chhetri.
Talking to the reporters after a brief training session at the Ambedkar Stadium here, Chhetri praised Bhutia for his contribution to Indian football.
"I am missing Bhai (Bhaichung). It''s difficult as I have never been in a national camp without bhai for the past seven years," Chhetri said on the third day of the camp in preparation for India''s 2014 World Cup qualifiers against United Arab Emirates next month.
"But it is going to happen. I spoke to bhai a few days ago. I have been with players of the stature of Vijayan and bhai but one day all will have to go. A Sunil Chhetri will also go after some years.
"What matters is how much contribution one has made to Indian football. I think bhai (Bhaichung) has done a lot for Indian football. It will be tough for the youngsters in the camp to fill in the shoes of bhai, or for that matter the senior players who are not here," Chhetri, Bhutia''s strike partner in the national team for many years, said.
Bhutia and 13 other senior players, who were in India''s squad for Asian Cup in January under Englishman Bob Houghton, were omitted from the camp after new coach Armando Colaco took over the reigns of the national team last month.
India are playing their first international match with a new set of players after Houghton was sacked but Chhetri was not unduly worried.
"We have a mix of experienced and young players. Many of us have done well in the I-League and I am hoping that we will do well against UAE in the World Cup qualifiers. We had lost 0-5 to UAE last year before the Asian Cup but this time we are hoping to do better," said Chhetri.
