India’s poster boy for football, Sunil Chhetri announced his contract extension with Bengaluru FC earlier this month. The Blues’ longest-serving player, who joined the club at the time of its inception back in 2013, is nothing but proud of how far the team has come.
“As a club, we have had a great graph of growth. The way the club has functioned over the last 10 years on and off the pitch is a testament to the fact that we really held ourselves together. The ethos of the club is to improve every year, in every aspect and that doesn't mean we want to win every year. That has been one of the best things about this club. There is so much following for football here that when we finally got a club to call our own, everyone got together and that was the push we needed. From 500 to now 30,000 plus supporters, we have grown and how,” shares Chhetri, who proudly calls Bengaluru his home.
‘I still lose my cool, I do stupid things’Having been in the game for over 22 years now, Chhetri is the world’s third-highest goal-scorer and for him, staying motivated to achieve bigger goals is not difficult at all. “The life I live is an absolute dream and I do not take it for granted. My work is to eat properly, sleep a lot, play – just like a toddler (laughs). Yes, there are ups and downs and there is a small bit of pressure for being who I’m but that’s not a problem.” However, staying calm is a work in progress. He adds, “I still lose my cool, I do stupid things, say stupid stuff. But because of my age and maturity, I try to introspect and improve.”
‘Can’t wait for the baby’Chhetri is also waiting for another milestone – his firstborn. About preparing to take up the role of a father, he shares, “I can't wait. There hasn't been anything in my life that I have waited so passionately for. I’m trying to read as much as possible, talking to people who are experienced, and trying to gather as much knowledge as possible. On the practical side, I'm trying to help my wife as much as possible. There is only so little that I can do. All the heavy lifting is done by my wife. It’s unbelievable how much a woman goes through.”
Fitness first!At 39, Chhetri is as fit as any 20-year-old athlete in his prime. “Fitness is a way of life. I eat what I need, not what I want. I sleep a lot, drink a lot of water and stay mindful. That’s all I do, it’s not rocket science. It only becomes a talking point because I do it every day. Doing it once is not that difficult. Every person understands what’s good for their bodies. The fact that I act accordingly and follow it every day is what gives me an exponential difference.”
‘Young athletes should stay away from pressure’To all aspiring footballers, Chhetri has one thing to say, “do not give into the pressure and expectations. When I go to schools and academies, I see kids accompanied by parents, coaches, and mentors, and I see them go through so much pressure on their form and performance. I want to tell the kids to relax. When you are young, you play sports because you enjoy it, it makes you happy. Whether you become a professional or not is in the future and you have no control over it. Do not burden yourself. Play football or any sport because you enjoy it.”
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