Liton Shil still regrets not being able to go out of the preparatory camp in Bangalore and fulfill one of his dreams. That is to get a national jersey with the signing of his favorite striker Sunil Chhetri. 

The 28-year-old useful striker of Army Red has already earned prominence by scoring six goals in his maiden appearance in the ongoing CFL premier division. The striker is currently busy participating in the ongoing Durand Cup for the Army team. 

Speaking over the phone from Kokrajhar Assam Liton commented, “We were training in our camp in Bangalore before the CFL premier division kicked off this season. Sunil Chhetri and his Bengaluru FC teammates also trained for a few days on the same ground. I did not waste the opportunity to meet my favorite Indian striker at that time and requested a national jersey signed by him. Chhetri also promised to give it. But he asked me to go to his club and bring it.” 

He added, "I could not go there during our preparatory camp. I still regret it, but at the same time, waiting for the next opportunity. If I meet him again I must take the jersey with his signing."

Liton also participated in Santosh Trophy, representing Karnataka and later Services last year, and also played National Games for Services. 

Liton who lost his father two years ago hails from Siliguri. His elder brother is in the civic police. His family needed a secure job. So Liton joined the Indian army but through the sports quota at an early age. 

The trip to Bayern Munich in 2010 helped him a lot to develop says the striker. "The seven footballers in total toured Germany in 2010. I was one of them. We trained with the Bayern Munich reserve team and also with the academy boys. It was a dream experience. But the tour was only for a week. Still, whatever I learned there is applying after 13 years. I still try to apply the techniques in training to develop myself as a striker I learned in those seven days."

Liton who is likely to sign Trau FC for the I-league this season has the sole aim of getting a national call-up. The striker who often watches training videos of Cristiano Ronaldo concluded, "I must have to develop to that extent where I can be indispensable for any team I will represent in the future, especially the national team."