In his letter to the press, Chhetri offered glowing praise to his journalist colleagues and even tendered an apology for the brevity of the post-match press conference.
Digital Desk: Sunil Chhetri's heartfelt message to the media and journalists following his final international game during India's FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait on June 6 is resonating deeply across social media platforms. Despite India's 0-0 draw against Kuwait at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati stadium in Salt Lake, Kolkata, marking the conclusion of Chhetri's illustrious 19-year India career, his gratitude towards media personnel shone through in a poignant letter shared before the post-match press conference. This letter has since gained widespread attention online.
Although Chhetri wasn't able to conclude his already legendary India career with another one of his signature match-winning goals, his legacy as the fourth-highest goalscorer in men's international football, boasting an impressive tally of 94 goals, places him among giants such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Ali Daei. As India's most-capped and successful player, Chhetri received a resounding standing ovation from the 58,000-strong crowd at the Salt Lake stadium. While fans wished for a more triumphant farewell, they bid adieu to their Captain Fantastic with tearful eyes and immense respect.
In his letter to the press, Chhetri offered glowing praise to his journalist colleagues and even tendered an apology for the brevity of the post-match press conference.
"Over the last 19 years, I've had the opportunity to interact with so many of you, on more than a few occasions. There were times when I had to say a lot less than I would have liked to, and others where I responded to your questions with long monologues. There were the answers laced with frustration, the ones that were - much to your annoyance - non-committal, and then the press conferences that ended in a hurry. But through it all, I'd like to believe that 1 was always honest with you. And that I always chose to have a conversation with you, even if it risked making headlines for reasons beyond those that I would have liked. I wanted to - by way of this letter and this occasion - thank you for playing the role you did in telling my story," Chhetri's letter read.
"Thank you for the love and adulation you have shown me through your prose and photographs. But most importantly, thank you for the times when you've been honest in your assessment of the way I've played or carried myself. Yours isn't an easy job, but a really important one. And now is as good a time as any to acknowledge it. Keep telling stories of Indian football - the good, the not po good, but mostly the ones with genuine promise and hope. We need it now more than ever. You had, and will always have, the best seats in the house. I just hope that, over these 19 years, I have made that experience just a little more special. Maybe I’ll join your dugout for a game or two. Signing off with gratitude," the letter further read.
This match serves as a stark reminder for India to reduce their reliance on set-piece goals, especially given the absence of Sunil Chhetri, the national team's most experienced and accomplished player to date.
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