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Indian National Team: Sunil Chhetri To Join Team India From Kansas City Wizards
Almost joining...
28-Jul-2010 7:43:00 AM
By Rahul Bali
It’s good news for Indian football fans as Sunil Chhetri is likely to be part of the Indian national team camp in Portugal as a deal is likely to inked between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Kansas City Wizards in the coming days.
It was back in March when Chhetri made the high profile move to the MLS and it was always going to be difficult for the Indian striker to break into the first eighteen given the level of competition at his new club.
There was a back-up plan decided back then by Indian national coach Bob Houghton who believed that if Chhetri failed to get substantial playing time at Kansas, probably they would loan him out as he had a major role to play for the country at the 2011 Asian Cup.
Expectedly so, Chhetri struggled at the MLS club with the league being at a much higher level than the I-League and had to be content only by training.
With the Delhi lad expressing his interest to join the national camp, Houghton threw his weight around and got the AIFF to do a deal with the American club.
In order to save the face of Chhetri, the AIFF would have approached Kansas and stated that since the player wasn’t playing much for them and since he is crucial for India’s 2011 Asian Cup preparations, it would be great if the club loaned him out for six months or so with the Indian FA taking care of the financials.
When the player was in the national capital last month, he had mentioned about having to endure tough times at Kansas.
“Our ranking does play a role and they don’t trust me yet. I am not in the main team and I am not used to this.
“If I felt that I can’t make it probably I would have come back but I do believe that I can make it,” Chhetri had informed.
It was back in March when Chhetri made the high profile move to the MLS and it was always going to be difficult for the Indian striker to break into the first eighteen given the level of competition at his new club.
There was a back-up plan decided back then by Indian national coach Bob Houghton who believed that if Chhetri failed to get substantial playing time at Kansas, probably they would loan him out as he had a major role to play for the country at the 2011 Asian Cup.
Expectedly so, Chhetri struggled at the MLS club with the league being at a much higher level than the I-League and had to be content only by training.
With the Delhi lad expressing his interest to join the national camp, Houghton threw his weight around and got the AIFF to do a deal with the American club.
In order to save the face of Chhetri, the AIFF would have approached Kansas and stated that since the player wasn’t playing much for them and since he is crucial for India’s 2011 Asian Cup preparations, it would be great if the club loaned him out for six months or so with the Indian FA taking care of the financials.
When the player was in the national capital last month, he had mentioned about having to endure tough times at Kansas.
“Our ranking does play a role and they don’t trust me yet. I am not in the main team and I am not used to this.
“If I felt that I can’t make it probably I would have come back but I do believe that I can make it,” Chhetri had informed.
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