I thank Sunil Chhetri for what he gave to India, says Subrata Paul

Subrata Paul and Sunil Chhetri shared the national team dressing room for a long time.

Sunil Chhetri, the legendary striker and captain of the Indian football team, recently announced his retirement from international football. After a glorious 19-year career, Chhetri will hang up his boots for the national team following their upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait on June 6th, 2024. The match will be played at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, marking an emotional farewell for the Indian talisman.

Former India goalkeeper Subrata Paul was invited as a guest of honour for the finals of the recently concluded Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL), which Punjab FC won in thrilling manner as they defeated East Bengal 3-2.

Subrata Paul in an exclusive interview with Khel Now had his say on Sunil Chhetri’s emotional retirement announcement. The goalie, who is also known as Spiderman, said, “I really respect his decision. This was a very tough decision. Because what you were doing since 19 years for the team, after 6th June you cannot do that anymore. I thank him for his mental strength and also for what he gave to India. We shared the ground numerous times, we shared our good and bad times too. I wish him good luck for his future. I hope he remains healthy, fit, and happy with his family. If we can do something off the pitch for Indian football, we will definitely do it.”

It was indeed an emotional pill to swallow for every Indian football fan watching that 9:58 seconds video posted by Chhetri on his official social media handles.

The RFDL, established by Reliance Foundation, is a youth development league aimed at nurturing and promoting young Indian football talent. By providing a platform for competitive matches and professional training, the league plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between youth football and senior-level professional leagues in India.

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