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Sunil Chhetri, Subrata Pal and Syed Rahim Nabi are three of the most important players in the India national team. After making their mark at international level under Bob Houghton, the three have become senior members during the tenure of Wim Koevermans.
A lot will be expected from the trio in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers, where India have been drawn alongside hosts Myanmar, Chinese Taipei and Guam. However all three have endured difficult times at their respective clubs for different reasons, and that will certainly concern Koevermans and his coaching staff.
Sunil Chhetri (International Career: Caps – 61; Goals: 36)
Club: Sporting Lisbon ‘B’
The India captain is undoubtedly a superstar and role model for Indian football fans, and the move to Sporting Lisbon ‘B’ in July 2012 enhanced his reputation. However, the striker has found it difficult to get into the team as he has managed only two substitute appearances in the Portuguese second division so far. Sunil has expressed his frustration at the lack of game time through his Twitter profile, and the lack of match fitness has been evident while playing for India as well, as he came off with a muscle injury during the 0-2 defeat to Singapore in October. Coach Koevermans has been supportive throughout and has even offered to travel to Lisbon, but Sunil’s situation at Sporting hasn’t changed, as he hasn’t been on the pitch at all since October. The 28-year-old will be hoping to get some action before the international friendly against Palestine and thus avoid rustiness, as India would need him to be in perfect shape in order to get a positive result from that game.
Subrata Pal (International Career: Caps – 46)
Club: Prayag United
India’s number one was in the form of his life in the 2011 Asian Cup, but hasn’t been at his best ever since. A nasty knee injury has contributed to that of course, but high spenders Prayag United kept faith in Subrata’s class by signing him in the summer of 2012. However, Subrata has struggled to play to his full potential and has often been at fault for some of the team’s poor results this season. As a result, he has lost his place in starting eleven to veteran custodian Sangram Mukherjee. Coach Eelco Schattorie’s decision to drop Subrata has improved Prayag’s form, and it remains to be seen if the India international is restored to the first team any time soon. Schattorie’s decision will give his compatriot Koevermans a problem while selecting the lineup for the Palestine friendly because of Subrata’s dip in form and lack of match fitness. While he doesn’t have many alternatives for Sunil, Koevermans has the option of promoting either Karanjit Singh or Subhasish Roywchodhury to the starting eleven. However, Subrata’s experience is priceless and thus the former Dutch international will be hoping to see ‘Mistu’ regain his starting place and form at Prayag.
Syed Rahim Nabi (International Career: Caps – 50; Goals: 5)
Club: Mohun Bagan
While Sunil hasn’t been a regular at Sporting Lisbon ‘B’ and Subrata has had a dip in form, Nabi has suffered because of the misfortunes of his club both on and off the pitch. India’s Mr. Versatile hasn’t dropped his performance levels, but his club Mohun Bagan have had a torrid season and it got worse on December 9 in a match against arch-rivals East Bengal, when Nabi was hit by a missile from the stands. Mohun Bagan refused to come out for the second half citing Nabi’s serious injury and the crowd violence, and we all know what happened after that, as the Kolkata club was first banned and then re-entered into the I-League. The players were the biggest losers though, especially Nabi, who not only had to undergo surgery, but the initial ban meant that Bagan were not in action for almost five weeks. It now means that Mohun Bagan and Nabi face an enormous fixture congestion, and that certainly won’t please Koevermans, as one of his best players faces the risk of getting burned out ahead of an important month for the national team. It remains to be seen if Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa decides to rest Nabi in the Calcutta Football League (CFL), but considering the green-and-maroon brigade’s desperation for a trophy, the 2012 AIFF Player of the Year might well have to play every game in every competition.
Besides central defender Gouramangi Singh (59 caps, 5 goals), the trio have the most international experience among the current national team players. Although there is no doubt about their quality, all three players would be hoping for a change in fortunes at the club level so that they can report for international duty with form and fitness on their side.
