Kolkata: Attacking midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad on Tuesday said the Indian team is confident of giving “more than 100 per cent” in Sunil Chhetri’s farewell match against Kuwait here on Thursday. The match is also crucial for the Indian team as a win against Kuwait will give them a chance to finish in the top two in the group and reach the third round of the World Cup qualifiers for the first time. “We are looking forward to the match,” Sahal told the media on the sidelines of the team’s practice session at the National Centre of Excellence here.
We think we will give our all for him, as we always do. He is also ready to give his 100 percent. We would like to put in more than 100 percent.” This match will be the farewell match of Chhetri, one of the greatest players of Indian football. In his 19-year international career, Chhetri has scored 94 goals in 150 matches for the country. He is the third leading active goal scorer after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Sahal said, ‘He (Chhetri) has been my inspiration since day one. It is great to play with him and share the dressing room with him.
Recalling his debut with the Indian team, the 31-year-old said, “On my first day with the national team, he put his hand on my back and said, ‘This is a jersey that everyone wants to wear’.” When asked about the player who will replace Chhetri in the team, Sahal said, “I don’t know about the future, but I know that the young generation is ready to move forward.
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