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#1 Demanding fans to come to the stadium
"Football without fans is nothing"
There were plenty of empty seats when Sunil Chhetri scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Chinese Taipei in the Intercontinental Cup at Mumbai.
Seeing that agony, India's Skipper demanded every Indian fan to come to the stadium and back the Blue Tigers via social media.
In the video he said, Today I am not making a video for you guys. I am gonna speak and appeal to all of you who did not come.
To everyone who is not a football fan, please come and watch us for two reasons. No. 1 – it’s the best game in the world and No. 2 – we play for our country. We will make sure that once you come to watch us, you will not return the same person back home.
“To all of you who are fans of big European clubs and support European clubs with so much passion, thinking that the level is not the same. Agreed, the level is not the same, it is not even close. But with our desire and determination, we will make sure to make your time worth. To all of you who have lost hope, I request you to come and watch us in the stadiums."
“To all of you fans that could not come or did not come due to delay, work and school, please come and watch us in the stadiums. You guys have no idea how important you are and your support is. So today I am requesting all of you to come to support us on 4th, 7th and hopefully 10th June when we are playing in Mumbai. Encourage us, watch us, abuse us, criticise us, talk about the game, go back home and have discussions, make banners but please get involved.”
“This is a very important time and juncture in Indian football and football in India needs you guys. So here am requesting you - come and support us, in Mumbai and wherever we play. Jai Hind.”
The very next day he requested the fans in and around the city to come and support the national team through social media.
Succeedingly, the result paid off as India beat the opponents Kenya 3-0 at the same venue. After the game, there was a rendition of the Viking Clap as Sunil Chhetri and every other member of the team went around the ground to acknowledge the spectators.
That sentence certainly did not go for a toss.
For regular football watchers and the people who follow Indian football keenly, that day would have been one of the best in their history as the Blues booked their ticket to the AFC Asian Cup to UAE.
This has prompted plenty of fans to follow the nation's football with severe interest, and eventually, some fans even made their way to the United Arab Emirates to watch the team play live. It was a disappointment, but this day will not be forgotten easily.
