Bengaluru FC makes history
Last month saw the unprecedented event of Bengaluru F.C. reaching the finals of the AFC Cup. They decimated the challenge from the defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim to pull off this feat. On the heels of this remarkable achievement, captain Sunil Chhetri believes that the revival of Indian football has begun.
” Bengaluru reaching the AFC Cup final in the host country of the 2022 World Cup, and hopefully winning it, has signaled the beginning of the revival of Indian football as an Asian power, ” Sunil Chhetri remarked. Incidentally, the diminutive powerhouse of Indian football is also the national team’s captain and has 51 goals in 91 appearances.
The significance of Doha and Qatar
The Indian community in Qatar is one of the largest expatriate groups. Sunil Chhetri believes that the support of these people will help Bengaluru FC create history for Indian football. “There is no better place in Asia for this revival to begin than in Doha,” Chhetri quipped.
The captain Sunil Chhetri has already reached out to the Indian community to come out in huge numbers to support the team. The response has been overwhelming and the match promises to possess an electrifying atmosphere. The Bengaluru FC and Indian skipper has also made it clear that he wants this support to be for India as a whole.
A lot depends on the skipper
Sunil Chhetri, who has represented football giants Sporting Lisbon and Kansas City Wizards scored 2 goals in the 3-1 victory. This victory at home meant the Indian side triumphed 4-2 in aggregate against the defending champions from Malaysia.
“I had never thought of it before winning the semifinals. I think I have a special bond with Doha”, Sunil Chhetri said. Moreover, he also shares a special connection with the city of Doha It was in 2011 when the national team qualified for the AFC Asian Cup here. “I hope my connection with the city helps my club win the final”, he said.
Bengaluru FC battles it out in the finals against Iraq’s Al Quwa Al Jawiya. The match will be held at the Qatar SC stadium at Doha on Saturday. The Sportsrush wishes the team all the luck in this historic encounter!
