Chhetri bats for unified league

DC CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, DEC. 27 Emphasising on the need for the national side to get more Fifa games in a year, former skipper Sunil Chhetri believes that a unified league (merger of the Indian Super League and the I-League) will allow greater possibilities for that to happen.

“I want to play all 13 Fifa dates in a year. We need that. That’s where the unified league is going to come in handy. We should prioritise that, and ensure the national team gets a chance to play more games. Hope we play bigger opponents and away from home as we have done really poorly as a nation away from home. Win or lose, that will at least give us a chance to improve as a footballing nation,” Chhetri said at the launch of the 10th edition of the I-League here on Tuesday.

India’s premier domestic football competition will see a return of representation from all four regions of the country — Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Aizawl FC and Shillong Lajong from the East and NorthEast; Mumbai FC, DSK Shivajians and Churchill Brothers from the West; Bengaluru FC and Chennai City FC from the South and debutants Minerva Punjab will bring the North back into top flight Indian football after a gap of five seasons.

With great deal of uncertainty surrounding the proposed merger, the Bengaluru FC skipper hoped that the unified league would soon be a reality. “Who would not like to see a merger? One league with more teams, more months is what we all wish for. There are few technicalities and I am sure they are looking into it. Eventually we will see one league. A unified league,” he said.

Having won the Saff Championship as a national team member, reached a historic AFC Cup final with Bengaluru FC and semifinals in the ISL with Mumbai City FC, Chhetri called 2016 his finest year.

Asked if the Indian players should strive to play club football overseas, Chhetri said, “If a player has reached a certain level and he thinks he can improve more, then he should go. Not only in India it’s everywhere.”