New Delhi: Barely a month after he overtook his “mentor” Bhaichung Bhutia to become India’s highest-ever goalscorer in International Football, there’s yet another feather in Sunil Chhetri’s Cap.
Votes from all Airtel I-League Club Coaches have now crowned him the 2013 AIFF Player of the Year for the third time. None other than IM Vijayan has achieved such a feat. Moments after Mr. Praful Patel declared Chhetri as the 2013 AIFF Player of the Year, the National Team Captain spoke exclusively to www.the-aiff.com on his reactions, the ‘myth’ that he doesn’t score for his Club, his best moment in 2013 and much more. EXCERPTS:
Votes from I-League Club Coaches have made you the 2013 AIFF Player-of-the-Year. Whom do you dedicate it to?
It feels great and I am very thankful to all the Coaches for voting for me. But then I don't take it too seriously. It feels good for a while and then you ought to brush it off and move on.
Sometimes Awards can make you complacent and if you become so, then it doesn't take much time for your form to dip. All these years I have learnt to deal with adulations and criticism in a normal way. Honestly, I’m still learning.
I want to dedicate it to my family. It’s for them what I am today. Thank you so much!
Did you expect to win it this time? Whom do you dedicate it to?
I wasn’t thinking about the Award. In fact, it never stayed on my mind until I came to know today. Even the ones which I have received earlier, I wasn't prepared. When you train or play a Match, you don’t think about Awards. But yeah, when you get it, you feel great, elated and equally motivated.
How much have your Teammates played a role in the Award?
Massive! I have been very fortunate to have amazing lads as my Teammates -- my mates from Churchill Brothers and presently from Bengaluru FC. I also want to take this opportunity to thank all the Players that I have played with for my National Team as none of those 43 goals would have been possible without their support.
I also need to thank the Coaching staff of both the Clubs that I have played this year and obviously from the National Team.
There’s a myth that “Sunil Chhetri doesn’t score for his Club.” What do have to say?
People are free to speak whatever they want – lavish praise or criticise. But all of that wouldn’t change the fact that I’ll keep working hard and keep pushing myself to get better with every day. I love my Football and am very passionate about it.
If I can remember, the last season I played for Churchill Brothers, I scored 4 goals in 6 I-League Matches. Prior to that, courtesy an injury, I could only play 11 I-League Matches for Mohun Bagan where I scored 6 goals. If one is willing to backtrack further, I scored 7 goals for Prayag United (now United SC) in 7 Matches and 9 Goals for Dempo SC in 12 Matches.
My stint with east Bengal was also hampered by injuries but I scored 9 goals in 13 Matches and with JCT, which have been the best years for me I netted 25 League Goals in 3 years.
Obviously, all of the above may not be the best of stats but are decent enough. Injuries have hit me hard almost every season and I pray to the Almighty to keep me fit. This is the only season where I haven’t yet succumbed to injuries (touch wood).
Looking back, what was the most pleasant moment for you in 2013?
Quite a few -- winning the I-League crown with Churchill Brothers and joining an amazing Club like Bengaluru FC. Scoring the 43rd goal for my Country -- that too in front of my mom who watched the match from the stands at the Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri was indeed special too!
CHHETRI OVER THE YEARS
Awards won (till December 20, 2013)
Arjuna Award: 2011
AIFF Player of the Year: 2007, 2011 & 2013
Best Player in NFL: 2006-07
Best Striker in NFL: 2006-07
CAREER WITH NATIONAL TEAM
International debut: April 1, 2004 vs Afghanisthan at SAF Games, Islamabad.
Matches Played: 80 (till December 20, 2013)
Goals Scored: 43 goals (till December 20, 2013 – which include 2 hat-tricks -- one in the final of AFC Challenge Cup, 2008 and the other vs Vietnam in an International Friendly)
Captained India: 21 matches (till December 20, 2013)
Trophies Won:
Nehru Cup: 2007, 2009, 2012 (Captain)
AFC Challenge Cup: 2008
SAFF Cup: 2011
CAREER WITH CLUBS:
Club represented so far (till December 20, 2013)
Mohun Bagan: 2002-05 and 2011
JCT Club: 2006-07
East Bengal: 2008
Dempo SC: 2009
Kansas City Wizards (USA): 2010
Prayag United: 2010
Sporting Lisbon (Portugal): 2012
Churchill Brothers: 2012
Bengalaru FC: 2013
FROM THE RECORD BOOK:
Has scored 73 goals in NFL/I-League and is the second-highest Indian goalscorer so far after Bhaichung Bhutia (89 goals).
