Sunil Chhetri Joins India Camp Ahead of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers

Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri, along with Bengaluru FC teammates Rahul Bheke and Roshan Singh Naorem, joined the national men’s football team’s preparatory camp in Bengaluru on Monday. The camp is gearing up for the AFC Asian Cup qualifying matches against Singapore, scheduled for October 9 (away) and October 14 (home). Their arrival boosts the camp’s strength to 28 players, as head coach Khalid Jamil prepares the squad for these critical fixtures.

The camp, which began on September 20 with only 18 players, faced challenges due to delayed player releases from three Indian Super League clubs—Bengaluru FC, East Bengal, and Punjab FC. These clubs initially withheld 14 players, including Chhetri, citing club commitments. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed the trio’s arrival via a post on X, noting their integration into the training setup. However, with the FIFA international match window spanning October 6 to 14, clubs were not obligated to release players earlier, leaving Jamil with limited time to train the full squad.

Coach Jamil had previously called for better coordination between clubs and the AIFF to balance club and national duties, particularly highlighting the shortage of defensive players in the camp’s early stages. Other players who joined later include Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Anwar Ali, and Mahesh Singh Naorem, among others. Jamil deliberately excluded players from Mohun Bagan Super Giant and FC Goa due to their AFC Champions League Two commitments, with Mohun Bagan withdrawing from their September 30 match against Iran’s Sepahan SC after their foreign players declined to travel due to safety advisories.

Also Read: India Hosts Singapore in Crucial AFC Asian Cup Qualifier at Goa

The upcoming matches against Singapore are pivotal for India’s qualification hopes for the AFC Asian Cup. With Chhetri’s experience and leadership now in the fold, the team aims to fine-tune its strategies despite the condensed preparation time. The Blue Tigers will depart for Singapore shortly, aiming to secure a strong result in the first leg of the qualifiers.

Also Read: Tilak Varma Silenced Pakistan with Epic Bat in Asia Cup Final Showdown