Sunil Chhetri talks Durand Cup & competition's importance in Indian football

Sunil Chhetri mentioned that the Durand Cup was the stepping stone for his professional career

Indian football’s highest goalscorer and the former captain of the Blue Tigers, Sunil Chhetri, is just one of the names that rose to stardom courtesy of the Durand Cup. Chhetri first played in the competition with Delhi’s City FC club and has since represented multiple clubs in the competition.

While the skipper and his Bengaluru FC will be absent from this season’s tournament, India’s Captain-Leader-Legend still remains quite vocal about the importance of the Durand Cup. Here is what Chhetri recently said about the competition in a promotional video.

What does the Durand Cup mean to Sunil Chhetri?

When asked about what the competition meant to him, Sunil Chhetri said:

“The legacy of the tournament prompts you, forces you to give your best. This is the third oldest tournament in the world and it means something and I just hope that we can always keep the importance of the Durand Cup”

“My first big break came because of the Durand Cup. I used to play for a club called City FC in Delhi. Playing for City FC in the Premier Rounds of the Durand Cup is where I could get the chance of rubbing my shoulders with the best in the country. We couldn’t go further in the tournament, but then that was the first time we watched all the top players from the country come to Delhi to perform.”

“Fortunately, I got the Man of the to. urnamment. But In that year, there were five players who were just the Man of the tournament and I was one of them. Mohun Bagan also saw me there. And hence, they gave me a call and my career started. So yes, the Durand Cup plays a very important role in giving me the first break. And that’s where my journey began.”

How important is the Durand Cup for the future of Indian football?

Durand Cup is a competition that brings clubs from all over India together, irrespective of which league they play in. Talking about the same, Sunil Chhetri said:

“For the teams who are playing in the I-League or Second Division or even the services teams, they get to know exactly where they stand.”

“Chhangte because, you know, when you play with or against the National Team boys, it’s not very common to get games against the best teams in the country. So, the Durand Cup gives a platform and an opportunity for the teams that probably wouldn’t get a chance to play with the big ones to go and perform.”

“On the other side, because it’s a pre-season tournament, it also gives all the ISL clubs a good start to the year, you know. With each passing year, in the last five, six years, you have seen the competition intensifying and every team comes, of course, first thinking that it’s a pre-season and we’re going to get good games. Also, the legacy of the tournament prompts you, forces you to give your best, be one of them.”

Does the Durand Cup help in uncovering new talent?

Talking about what advantage the Durand Cup gives to undiscovered talent, the former Indian football team captain said:

“Oh, it does. I don’t know if you understand this, but when scouting for players, generally what clubs do when you hear about a player, you send your own people there. Then you watch some games, and then the information comes to the head coach.”

“But what Durand does is when you’re going there, the head coach and the whole team entirely can see the game of the individuals. You must have seen a lot of coaches, when they go to the Durand Cup, they’re not only going just to think about their own games, but they also go and watch other teams perform. So, I think it’s a great platform.”

“Seriously, for young kids who are getting a chance, not only the young kids who are playing in ISL, but also the young kids who are playing in the respective I-League teams or the services teams.”

Chhetri also gave an example of how Bengaluru FC’s forward Shivashakti made his debut for the club in the Durand Cup and has since become a regular in the matchday squad.

What was Sunil Chhetri’s favourite moment in the Durand Cup?

Talking about his best memories from the Durand Cup, the striker said:

“Getting the best player, there were five of us who got the best player, and the other four were all from big teams. Standing there at the podium, receiving the award was humongous for me. Just imagine a 17-year-old Delhi boy, who was just playing for Delhi FC, getting that award in front of everyone, and it was amazing.”

“Another moment that I remember fondly is the one where he lifted the trophy with Bengaluru FC. For all the years that I’ve played and been fortunate to pick up so many trophies, I had never won the Durand Cup. So, a couple of years back, lifting that trophy in Kolkata was and is memorable.”

About the Indian Army’s struggle to revive the Durand Cup

The Durand Cup was not played between 2016 and 2019, before being revived by the Indian Army. Talking about the same, Sunil Chhetri said:

“Oh, I’m really happy about it. In between, I think the tournament has lost its steam. But the last five, six years have been amazing.”

“I genuinely want to congratulate the Indian Army and everyone involved with bringing back the Durand Cup in the way it is right now. Because when I started my career, Durand was huge. And then in between, I don’t know why exactly it wasn’t as important as we thought it would be.”

“So, I just hope that we can hold on to it. When you say the third-oldest tournament in the world, it means something. So, I just hope that we can always keep the importance of the Durand Cup. Once again, I want to congratulate the Indian Army and everyone involved who have tirelessly worked to revive the tournament.”

How unique is the Indian Army’s contribution to Indian football?

“It’s amazing, and also, because of who I am, I get the opportunity of going and meeting all the top-notch people who are sitting there and making decisions and all of them are very excited.”

“Every Army person and officer that I’ve met because of the Durand Cup, they all are very excited. They all are very encouraging and that’s wonderful because it needs that. With all the top-notch officers of the Indian Army, when they’re involved and they want the tournament to succeed. This is the reason why we see what we see.”

“Because of the Indian Army being involved, you get permissions, you get to get five states, you get to get a lot of things rolling nicely and smoothly. I just really hope that it continues to flourish and every year the Durand Cup becomes a more important tournament.”

Chhetri concluded by saying:

“I just hope that whatever they have thought about for this tournament, every year it just keeps improving.”

Chhetri’s advice to young footballers who are going to make their Durand Cup debut….

Sending a message to the Durand Cup debutants, the Bengaluru FC skipper said:

“Enjoy it. Don’t be overwhelmed by who you’re facing. Because I know the feeling. Don’t think too much.”

“From wherever and whichever club you are, you’re getting a chance to perform at one of the best tournaments in the country against the top teams in the country. Go and enjoy it. Make the most out of it and just enjoy it.”

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