Iconic striker and senior national captain Sunil Chhetri visited the India’s ongoing women’s football camp at SAI complex in Bangalore on Sunday and offered inspiring messages to the team members ahead of their AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers.
Chhetri had some encouraging words for the women’s team as they prepare for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers, to be held next month. The senior women’s national team, coached by Crispin Chettri, is currently training at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru, and will also play two FIFA Women’s International Friendlies against Uzbekistan on May 29 and June 3, in the city.
He said, “Your coach (Crispin Chhetri) and I were in same team once. The reason I am saying this is to tell you that time flies. Fast! If you really want it bad, take all the margins. There will be no difference between sleeping at 10 pm and sleeping at 10.45 pm in one night. But do this for a year, and you see the difference. If you eat a samosa one day, won’t make too much of a difference. But don’t eat it for one year, you see where you are! Please don’t waste it (your youth). You’re still young. Just go mad!”
The captain at the same time divulged that retiring from mainstream football completely will be the most sad moment for him. “I cannot the think that one day will come when I have to say goodbye completely from the mainstream of the game. I will be no more a professional footballer after that. That will my saddest day,” added Chhetri.
