Sunil Chhetri’s heartwarming plea to the fans to back the football team is doing wonders as the fans have responded brilliantly. For the second match in row of the ongoing Intercontinental Cup, the tickets have been sold out.
Chhetri had made the appeal after the tournament-opener against Chinese Taipei. Riding on Chhetri’s hat-trick, the Blue Tigers had thrashed Chinese Taipei 5-0. However, only 2,569 fans had turned up to watch the game. Disappointed with the support, Chhetri had taken to Twitter to request the fans, urging them to come to the stadiums to support the team.
“Please come and support us, encourage us, watch us, abuse us, criticise us. Football in India needs you,” he said in the video.
“To all of you, who have lost hope or don’t have any hope in Indian football, we request you to come and watch us in the stadium. It’s not fun to criticise and abuse on internet. Come to the stadium, scream at us, shout at us,” he added.
This is nothing but a small plea from me to you. Take out a little time and give me a listen. pic.twitter.com/fcOA3qPH8i
— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) June 2, 2018
The video was shared by thousands of people, including the cricket captain Virat Kohli and legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar.
Please take notice of my good friend and Indian football skipper @chetrisunil11's post and please make an effort. pic.twitter.com/DpvW6yDq1n
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) June 2, 2018
Well, the fans responded brilliantly as they rushed to buy tickets for the game against Kenya in Mumbai. All 7,000 tickets at the Mumbai Football Arena for Monday’s game were sold out.
The team also responded brilliantly by thrashing Kenya 3-0. Chhetri, playing his 100th game for India, scored a brace while Jeje Lalpekhlua scored another as India sealed their place in the final of the four-nation competition. After the game, Chhetri had thanked the fans, tweeting:
We promise you that if that’s the kind of support we get every time we play for the country, we will give our lives on the pitch. India, this night was special because we were in this together. Those in the stands shouting, and the ones at home cheering – thank you!
— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) June 4, 2018
And now the fans have bought all the tickets for the upcoming game against New Zealand. India play the Kiwis in their final league encounter on June 7.