 "India head coach Khalid Jamil reveals why Sunil Chhetri is not in the reckoning for CAFA Nations Cup. Image: ISL/Reuters")
A day after releasing the Sunil Chhetri-less list of probables for the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup , newly appointed head coach of the Indian football team, Khalid Jamil, has come out with an explanation on why the former Indian captain is not part of his plans for the upcoming tournament.
Chhetri’s absence from the squad raised questions about his future, and a few enthusiasts went on to assert on social media that the 41-year-old’s time as a Blue Tiger has come to an end .
Khalid Jamil explains Chhetri’s exclusion from list of probables
However, it is not the case. The new coach respects Chhetri for the distinguished service he has given to the nation and made it known that the door is open for him.
“Sunil is a legend of Indian football. I have played against him, I’ve seen him play on numerous occasions, and he is one of my favourite players. said Jamil, as read in an AIFF media advisory. “He is a role model for Indian football, and the door is always open for him.”
Jamil further said, “He’s not there in this camp because we are playing a tournament which will essentially serve as a preparation for our Asian Cup Qualifiers,” he said. “I also want to try out a few other players during this FIFA window. I had a talk with him about the same. It’s always a pleasure to have a player like him in the team.”
Apart from Sunil Chhetri, Jamil weighed in on the national camp which began on August 16 with 22 players. Highlighting the absence of 13 players, who are currently fulfilling their obligation towards in their respective clubs in the Durand Cup, Jamil urged clubs to release the players immediately.
“We started the camp with some players still not available, but we’ve got the players we need to begin our preparations. The important thing is that we remain united as a team, because this will be India’s first-ever participation in the in the CAFA Nations Cup, and it will be a good opportunity for us to play stronger opponents. Therefore, for the national interest, we would like to request co-operation from clubs to release players on time, to ensure their adequate participation during the preparatory camp.”
Jamil wants to extract best out of the Indian team
While the CAFA Nations Cup is defined as a friendly tournament, the coach wants full commitment from his players, and given the teams participating in the competition, Jamil thinks it will be an ideal opportunity for the players to gain exposure.
“It will be good for us to play against quality opponents in the CAFA Nations Cup. There is absolutely no excuse for us, as we have enough time to prepare for it,” said Jamil. “Playing against stronger teams like Tajikistan and Iran will definitely be beneficial for us to prepare for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.”
India is in Group B of the CAFA Nations Cup and will play Tajikistan on August 29, Iran on September 1, and Afghanistan on September 4.