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  • 'Sunil Chhetri Was Over The Moon' - Childhood Coach Shares Heart-Warming Story

    It was Sajid who offered Chhetri his maiden club contract worth Rs 6500 and the player went on to make his first impression by winning the Emerging Player of the Year award🦋 in his first season

    Photo: X/ @IndianFootball

    A 16-year-old Sunil Chhetri's joy knew no bounds when he was handed over a token amount of Rs 1000 for his first-ever contract with a Delhi-based club, recalled his childhood coach Mohammad Sajid on Thursday. (More Football News)

    The legendary Indian captain, who has announced his retirement, began his journey by enrolling himself at the Mamta Mod꧟ern Senior Secondary School in ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚVikaspuri, where he was spotted by Sajid.

    It was Sajid who offered Chhetri his maiden club contract worth R𒀰s 6500 and the player went on to make his first impression by winning the emerging🍌 player of the year award in his first season.

    "Nageshwar Rao, a player from our City Football Club, facilitated my meeting with Sunil," S🐼ajid told PTI in an exclusive interaction in New Delhi at the Ambedkar Stadium.

    "I still remember offering him a contract worth Rs 6500 per year and asked him to play in the Delhi League and the Durand Cup," said Sajid, who is now the Ci🐼ty Club's CEO.

    "As soon as I handed him the token (amount) of Rs 1000, he ไwas elated — as if he had got a cheque worth lakhs of rupees. He was very happy and shared with me that with that money he wanted to give a treat to his friends," Sajid recollected.

    "His (Chhetri's) potential was unwavering and I felt it from the first day that he ✅must play outside Delhi as a professional, which would be fruitful for him."

    Chhetri went on to becom🦄e the leading scorer for India with 94 go꧋als in 150 matches.

    "To see him play that level makes us proud. He has played for our club (and) now he is among the top three players for scoring most goals in interna﷽tional football. He has worked really hard. Playing at that꧋ level for so long is also not an easy task," Sajid said.

    "💙I am not in touch with Sunil but I still remember the first t꧂ime I took him and another player, Manoj Joshi, to Kolkata on a train to sign up for Mohun Bagan in 1999."

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    "During that journ🐈ey, I told him (Chhetri) that he really had a high potential and only if he remained focussed, nothing would stop him from playing for India. He proved my words right."

    Sajid said India does not have any player to rꦅ💜eplace Chhetri.

    "No, I don’t see any player right now to replace Sunil. Maybe in the future, yes, but right now, th🐎ere is no one."

    Sajid also wishes for Chhetri to step into the world of football administration after his retirement. "We just want to⛎ see him join the AIFF and do something for football in this country," he said.

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