Bengaluru: Sunil Chhetri doesn’t know what it will be like to be at the Sree Kanteerava stadium here on Friday.For years, Sree Kanteerava stadium has been home to India’s most capped footballer. It is here that fans started to call him “captain, leader, legend”, playing his best football for club and country. Chhetri retired for a second time from international football last November, so when India play World Cuppers Panama in the first of the three high-profile friendlies, the Bengaluru FC talisman will watch the national team from the stands for the first time.“It’s a first for me and I’m pretty sure I will get used to it,” a relaxed Chhetri told TOI over a video call from his residence on Thursday. “Initially, I might not do well as a fan, but I will learn my traits. I’m somebody who learns fast. Don’t know exactly how I’m going to feel to go to Kanteerava and not be part of the team.”Chhetri is 42 and has had an astonishing career: 157 matches, 95 goals. The former India captain has been part of some high-profile clashes too, like the friendly against Manchester United during his time with Kansas City in the United States. But never has Indian football lined-up three friendlies within a fortnight against teams that competed at the FIFA World Cup just three months ago. There’s Panama to start with, followed by a historic clash against five-time world champions Brazil (Oct 3) and then world no. 20 Uruguay (Oct 6).Surely, for any footballer, the friendlies are tempting. If Chhetri was “still there with the team”, he would have “loved to be a part”. But after such a long career, nothing bothers him.“I have made peace (with the international retirement) because now at 42, I know there isn’t anything much that I could have given to the team,” said Chhetri. “Till the time I could, I gave everything, but now I know that I couldn’t have, so I’m pretty happy. I am fortunate to play for the country for so many years, so many games. When I played, I tried my best. My time is up. I’m a fan now.”For the 26 players handpicked by coach Khalid Jamil, memories of the three friendlies are certain to last a lifetime. You don’t get such matches often, but how do they make it count?The boys, Chhetri said, know they have to put their best foot forward, particularly after the last couple of years provided little or nothing to cheer for Indian football.“I’m pretty sure the boys are itching to make things right. The friendlies are a great opportunity to test yourself. It’s not often that you play teams outside the Asian region, so the players should go there and just enjoy it.”As for Chhetri, he will be cheering from the stands against Panama. For games against Brazil and Uruguay in Kolkata, he might have to skip them due to the club’s training sessions.“No matter what the result, I just hope all the fans when they come out (after the match), we have a feeling that the boys gave everything they had.”
