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A Suni Chettri-inspired India won the SAFF Championship in 2011The much anticipated SAFF Suzuki Cup is underway at the Trivandrum International Stadium from 23rd December in Kerala, India.This year’s tournament will see 7 teams vying for the title after the Pakistan Football Federation pulled out of the tournament citing security reasons. This will surely reduce the burden of India in the group stage as Pakistan was initially clubbed inside India’s group though India wouldn’t seriously have minded a high voltage encounter with their neighbours.Inside the draw, Group A consists of Sri Lanka, India and Nepal. Group B consists of last edition’s champions Afghanistan, a formidable force in South Asian football, Maldives, Bhutan and Bangladesh.Have a look at the five players who can have the most impact in the tournament.
#1 Balal Arezou
Age – 26Position - ForwardTotal games played ( Club) – 135 – 26 goalsTotal games played ( Country) – 20 – 9 goals
Arezou grew up in Afghanistan and moved to Norway as a refugee. In Norway, he played football for Senja, Grane, Arendal and Fredrikstad's youth team before he joined Asker in 2009. Arezou made his debut for his native country Afghanistan in 2010 when he was called up for 2010 South Asian Games. Arezou scored all six goals of Afghanistan and eventually went on to become the top scorer of the tournament with six goals in his name. Unfortunately Afghanistan lost the final to host nation but earned Balal Arezou the title of the best player in the tournament.
It was amazing to produce such an excellent display for his native country and it was a sign of things to come. Balal Arezou was the hero against Nepal in semifinal of the 2011 SAFF Championship, when he scored the only goal of the match in extra time and took his team to the final of the tournament. Afghanistan lost the final in a controversial manner when their skipper was sent off 20 minutes before the final whistle, but Arezou’s brilliant display never stopped in the game.
#2 Jahid Hasan Ameli
- Age – 27
- Position – Forward
- Total games played (Country) – 63 – 15 goals
Jahid is a Bangladeshi International footballer who plays as a striker for Sheikh Russel KC. He is the top scorer of the Bangladesh National Team and has the most caps. He is considered to be one of the best Bangladeshi footballers of all time. From 2007–2009, Ameli played for Dhaka side Abahani Limited where he scored a total of 25 league goals, helping the club win back-to-back B League titles. He then moved to another Dhaka side, Mohammedan Sport Club for the 2009–10 season where he scored 18 goals as the club finished league runners-up.
Before the start of the 2010–11 season, he transferred to Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club.They eventually won the league title. Later he joined Muktijoddha Sangsad KS in 2011-12 season; his team ended B League runners-up. He joined Sheikh Russel KC in 2012 and led his team to Federation Cup (Bangladesh) title by scoring 8 goals in the tournament.
#3 Anil Gurung
- Age – 27
- Positions - Forward
- Total games played (Country) – 43 – 9 goals
Anil Gurung is the captain of Nepal Football team. In his domestic league, Anil previously played for Brigade Club, Three Star Club, New Road Team (NRT) and Manang Marshyangdi Club. Anil proved himself in Nepali football by scoring 32 goals and becoming the highest scorer in the 2009 edition of Martyrs Memorial A Division Football League.
Due to his success, he is also regarded as one of the most successful and highly paid players of Nepal. He made headlines when he was selected for a trial by the Chelsea reserve team and Woking FC in England. Sahara Club, Nepal and Sahara Football Club, UK jointly initiated the trial-selection process. Sahara Club (Pokhara), a local football Club in Pokhara, which has branches in the UK, had applied for Anil’s trial. In England, Gurung went through a four-month-long trial, where he put his footballing skills to the test.
#4 Ali Ashfaq
- Age – 30
- Position – Forward
- Total games played ( Club) – 311 – 314 goals
- Total games played ( Country) – 103 – 44 goals
Ali is a Maldivian professional footballer who plays for Malaysia Super League side PDRM FA and the Maldives national team. He is a forward and serves as captain for Maldives. Widely regarded as one of the best players in the South Asia region, he is noted for his strength and amazing dribbling skills. He is also a free-kick specialist and a clinical finisher. Ali’s trademark style of scoring is beating a couple of defenders and rounding off the keeper to score.
He is considered the best Maldivian footballer ever, a moniker that seemed particularly apt when he was named the "World's 2nd Best Top Goal Scorer" in 2013 by IFFHS.
Ashfaq made his international debut for Maldives in December 2003, at the age of 18. He has since been capped over 100 times. Ashfaq is the Maldives' all-time top scorer with 44 goals. He scored his first international goal in 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Mongolia, he scored four times in the match. In 2008, he won the Most Valuable Player award in 2008 SAFF Championship.
#5 Sunil Chettri
- Age – 31
Chettri has been indispensable for the Indian Team over the years - Position – Forward
- Total games played ( Club) – 140 – 74 goals
- Total games played (Country)- 84 – 47 goals
Born in Secunderabad, Chhetri began his professional career at Mohun Bagan in 2002.He then moved to JCT where he scored 21 goals in 48 games, the most he has scored for any side in his career. He signed for the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer in 2010, becoming the third player of note from the subcontinent to go abroad.
However, that stint in the United States did not last long and soon he was back in India's I-League where he played for Chirag United and Mohun Bagan before going back abroad. This time he was signed by Sporting Clube de Portugal of the Primeira Liga where he played for the club's reserve side.
It was with the national team that Chhetri gained fame and made a name for himself. He helped India win the 2007 Nehru Cup, 2009 Nehru Cup, the 2012 Nehru Cup as well as the 2011 SAFF Championship. He was also one of India's best players during the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup in which India won the tournament and thus qualified for their first AFC Asian Cup in 27 years. He then led India in scoring during their short-lived campaign at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup with two goals.
Chhetri has also been named AIFF Player of the Year four times in 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2014 and now plies his trade for Bengaluru FC in the I-League.
