We’ll give more than 100 per cent for Chhetri, says midfielder Sahal

Sunil Chhetri

The Indian team is confident it can give "more than 100 per cent" in Sunil Chhetri's farewell match against Kuwait here on Thursday, said attacking midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad on Tuesday. A win against Kuwait in their penultimate round will also give them a shot at finishing in top-two in the group and advance to the third round of the World Cup qualifiers for the first time.

"We are looking forward to the game. We have that feeling we will fight for him, like we always do. He's also ready to give his 100 per cent and why not us? We will also give our more than 100 per cent," Sahal told the media on the sidelines of their training session at National Centre of Excellence.

The match will mark the end of a glittering 19-year-old international career of India's football torchbearer Chhetri who, with 94 goals from 150 matches, is the third leading active goalscorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. "From day one, he [Chhetri] has been my inspiration. It's been great to play with him and share the dressing room with him," said the 31-year-old.

"On my first day with the national team, he put his hand on my back and said, ‘This is a jersey everyone desires to wear'. I still vividly remember and cherish the moment," he recalled.

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