Didn't have Next Gen Cup opportunity as youngster, says Sunil Chhetri

Reserve sides of Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters will play in the tournament alongside Premier League's youth teams.

Team India captain Sunil Chhetri is excited for the young Indian players participating in the Next Gen Cup 2022 and feels the competition is providing a right platform for emerging Indian footballers to take their game to a higher level in the Next Generation Cup, 2022.

The talismanic striker feels the tournament in the United Kingdom is an opportunity he never had as a youth player in India.

"This is an opportunity that I didn't have as a young footballer in India, and I'm really happy that the Premier League and ISL have joined hands to make this happen,” said Chhetri, the third highest active international goal scorer in the world.

[KH_ADWORDS type="4" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

The 2022 edition of the Next Gen Cup is hosted by the Premier League and is part of its partnership with the Indian Super League (ISL), wherein both have been working closely together for the holistic development of Indian football.

"The Next Generation Cup presents a chance for our players to go out and get the experience of playing against the youth teams of some of the best sides in the UK," said Chhetri.

[KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

"I'm really glad to see our youngsters get this chance, and it also gives our coaches to see the boys who have been knocking on the first team doors in action," he added.

Chhetri further motivated the emerging Indian talent to draw inspiration from the youngsters that have recently broken the glass ceiling and made their mark with the national team.

[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News |ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

"To give them a message becomes easy when examples like Roshan Singh are in front of you. Think of where he was exactly a year back and look now, the journey from the club's academy to the first team and then the Indian team. He was a boy amongst them, and he has completely changed his life around. That is what you can do when you work hard," Chhetri remarked.

The U-21 squads of the teams that finished in the top two during the inaugural Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL), will represent India on the global stage against top Premier League academy teams.

Indian Super League and the Premier League in their eight-year-long partnership have collaborated to grow the sport in India with a focus on various aspects including coaching and refereeing along with youth development.

For more football updates, follow Khel Now on Twitter, Instagram and join our community on Telegram.