Sunil Chhetri's Sporting Lisbon B could tour India next month!

India captain Sunil Chhetri is back in Europe at Sporting Clube de Portugal 'B' after the Nehru Cup triumph earlier this month in New Delhi, but the Delhi boy could be back in India sooner then he himself might have thought.

Then Sporting Clube de Portugal have agreed in principle to send their SCP 'B' team to India on an exposure trip over the week October 9 to 15 during the FIFA break.

Nothing is finalised, but SCP and their Indian partners are currently working on plans for a week long trip to India.

More information in the coming days

Sunil Chhetri has arrived in the Portuguese capital Lisbon!

Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri arrived this evening at 19.55 local time in the Portuguese capital Lisbon after flying via Helsinki from New Delhi ahead of joining his new team mates at Sporting Clube de Portugal's 'B' team.

There was a massive interest from the local Portuguese media about Sunil's arrival with TV crews, radio stations, the written press and online publications at the arrivals area; all wanting to speak to Sunil with Sporting fans shouting slogans in their clubs name.

In the first statements on Portuguese soil as a green-and-white Sunil Chhetri said, "I am very proud. Sporting is one of the best clubs in the world and this is a big step in my career."

Sunil Chhetri did not hesitate when asked what the symbol and colours of Sporting Clube de Portugal are, "Symbol? A lion. The colours? Green and white." The striker said he was eager to start and assured, "I promise I'll give everything. This is a great opportunity for me!"

Sunil was led by Sporting's Directors to the SCP Academy where he will sleep tonight. Tomorrow morning Sunil will have to undergo the mandetory medical check-up and he would get a chance to rest in the afternoon. Sunil would participate in his first training session with his new team mates on Friday at the SCP training facilities and could play for SCP 'B' in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Ashok Rajgopal, the CEO of Football One, the company who made Sunil Chhetri's deal possible with Sporting Clube de Portugal will land in Lisbon tomorrow to follow Sunil's arrival in the Portuguese capital with his agent Yogesh Joshee also set to arrive over the day tomorrow.

Sporting Clube de Portugal confirm Sunil Chhetri signing!

Portuguese giants Sporting Clube de Portugal have officially confirmed on their club website the signing of Indian national football team captain Sunil Chhetri. Sunil joins their SCP 'B' team, which plays in the second tier of Portuguese league football, to get acclimatised with the new conditions. More information will be disclosed at a press conference in New Delhi tomorrow, Thursday afternoon.

This follows an earlier press release from their new Indian partners Football One: Indian Football Captain Sunil Chhetri joins Sporting Clube de Portugal!


Sporting Clube de Portugal in their press release said

Sporting Clube de Portugal has officially opened its doors to the Indian market.
The Club is now pushing forward with a series of partnerships that make the most of Sporting’s success in the area of youth training.
Sporting Clube de Portugal has long been recognised for its expertise in producing some of the world’s most notable stars, which was further reinforced by Portugal’s superb showing in Euro 2012.
With the aim of breaking ground in one of FIFA’s most highly regarded markets, where more than 20 million players apply their trade, Sporting has put pen to paper with the Indian national team captain, Sunil Chhetri, who will now join up with the Club’s reserve side.

Indian Football Captain Sunil Chhetri joins Sporting Clube de Portugal!

In the biggest-ever transfer of an Indian footballer our national football team captain, Sunil Chhetri will be joining Sporting Clube de Portugal (also known as Sporting Lisbon and Sporting CP) this season. Football One, the football arm of new Wizcraft International Entertainment venture Sports One, will facilitate the transfer, giving Sunil Chhetri the opportunity to play in the Portuguese SuperLiga.

Sporting Clube de Portugal has partnered with Football One with the objective to develop football in the Indian market and help develop Indian football talent.

Sporting Club de Portugal is one of the top three clubs in Portugal besides FC Porto and Benfica Lisbon. With football players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Luis Figo among others who have come out of the clubs football academy, it is considered as one of top academies in the world today.

Luiz Godinho Lopes, Sporting Clube de Portugal president, said, "We are keen to support the development of football in India. We along with our partners Football One, are looking at ways in which we can leverage the technical knowledge and coaching expertise that resides within the club to support Indian football. We will align our efforts with that of AIFF and the vision of its President, to raise the level of the game here in India. We are here for the long term and our signing on Sunil Chhetri is the first of our initiatives."

Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri said, "It is a real pleasure for me and an exciting moment in my career to join a European giant like Sporting Lisbon. I have dreamt of this day and always believed that my time will come. It is now a reality. Sporting Lisbon, my agent Yogesh Joshee from Matchworld and Football One has made it possible for me and I will make it count for India. Thank you so much."

Ashok Rajgopal, Football One CEO, said, "Football One is partnering with Sporting Club de Portugal to support the development of football in India. Our first initiative in this partnership is to facilitate the movement of Sunil Chhetri to play at Sporting Clube de Portugal for the coming season. We are excited to have the Indian football captain playing for one of the top clubs in Portugal, one that has produced some of the top players in international football today."

Football is rapidly gaining interest in India and alongside the professionalism on field there is also a growing need for sports management to effectively administer sports programs, events and sporting associations. Football One will leverage on its network and skills to combine football and entertainment to create and support initiatives that will help popularize the game in India.


About Football One

Football One is a part of Sports One, which is brought together by a group that is passionate about sports. The initiative is promoted by the co-founders and directors of Wizcraft International Entertainment - Andre Timmins, Viraf Sarkari and Sabbas Joseph along with Ashok Rajgopal, former partner with Ernst & Young's media and sports consulting practice.

Sports One works in the areas of sports activation and sports marketing, it marks a confluence between entertainment and sport. The company seeks to establish a holistic 360 degree approach to sports marketing, brand activation, management of sports properties and lending its support to the ever growing sports industry in India. It will also work as a medium to promote Indian talent on an international platform as well as develop the quality of sports in India.