In Front Of Almost 60,000 Supporters, Sunil Chhetri Bids A Heartfelt Goodbye For The Last Time!

On June 6, at Yuba Bharati Stadium, Salt Lake, there was a match between India and Kuwait. As the final whistle blew, it was clear that the Indian footballers' faces were full of hopelessness. The game ended in a tie, with neither team scoring. 

Sunil Chhetri stood alone in the middle of the field, wearing his Indian jersey, knowing that thia was his final match. After some time, Coach Igor Stimac walked over and gave some courage. Chhetri still could not believe that this was actually his last match in his life. His eyes were filled with tears, rolling down his cheeks. But he knew that he had to keep his emotion away. So, he stopped crying.

Chhetri then started his final walk around the field surrounding his fans. The stadium was packed with nearly 60,000 audiences who were waiting for this moment. The whole stadium was resonating with their cheers. Chhetri thanked them again and again, accepting their respect.

Before leaving the field, his teammates, the guardians of Indian football, gathered to honour him. Overcome with emotion, Chhetri wiped away the tears that refused to stop. He paused for a moment, trying to gather himself, but the tears wouldn't stop. When the time came, he shook hands with his teammates to mark the end of an era. 

FIFA had organised a tribute to honour Chhetri's amazing career. The legendary football player was honoured in a short ceremony by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Mayor Firhad Hakim and Minister of Sports Arup Biswas attended the ceremony. 

Chhetri was honoured by representatives of Mohammedan Sporting Club, Mohun Bagan, and East Bengal, who acknowledged his contributions to Indian football. The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and Kalyan Chaubey, President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), both delivered their best wishes. 

Chhetri received numerous gifts and honours on that day. Some gave bouquets, and some gave framed photos. As the ceremony came to an end, a small stage was set up on which Chhetri's parents and wife stood proudly. His father-in-law, Subrata Bhattacharya, was notably absent because of unexpected circumstances. 

The media waited impatiently outside the stadium for Chhetri's post-match comments. But Chhetri decided to write them a letter instead. He conveyed his gratitude for the 19 years of consistent support. He emphasised that he would always represent himself and his country with honesty, even in the face of occasional frustrations. 

Thanking everyone for being a part of his journey, Chhetri encouraged them to keep cheering on Indian football. He said he hoped his experiences had had an impact and that he wanted to be one of the supporters when the next generation of football players took to the field.