Indian national team captain Sunil Chhetri in action against Kenya in the final of the Hero Intercontinental Cup 2018 in Mumbai. (Photo courtesy: AIFF Media)
Moments after India lifted the Hero Intercontinental Cup courtesy a splendid Sunil Chhetri performance, Stephen Constantine, Head Coach, Indian National Team praised the team for their character on the field and touting the victory as a “win for Indian football.”
“We really deserved to win this Cup and the players showed amazing character on the pitch in the final. This is a win for Indian football. The work rate of the players was phenomenal and we showed how tough we are,” the coach said.
The Hero Intercontinental Cup was memorable for skipper Sunil Chhetri as he not only earned his 100th international cap and scored seven goals in four matches thus equalling Argentina’s Lionel Messi’s record of 64 goals in international football.
“The boys wanted to win the tournament and we did it. It is a very important win for us and Indian football in general,” Chhetri stated. “Kenya were trying to pressure us is in the second half but we showed phenomenal character to play as a team and thwart them away.”
The skipper meanwhile has already turned his eyes towards the AFC Asian Cup. “Everything we do is about the AFC Asian Cup. The AFC Asian Cup is what we are preparing for and this tournament helped us in our preparation for that,” Chhetri added.
“I am trying to play as an example and reciprocate to everyone, trying to encourage each other in our quest for the AFC Asian Cup.”
(AIFF Media)