Sunil Chhetri joins Chirag United

I-League side Chirag United SC have pulled off the transfer coup of the winter by signing Indian international striker Sunil Chhetri until the end of the 2010/11 season. That was confirmed by the clubs chairman Kaustav Roy and player last night. Thereby the hopes of United Sikkim and Baichung Bhutia to make a marquee signing by getting Chhetri on board for the 2.Division I-League will not happen.

Chhetri only a few days ago was released by Major League Soccer side Sporting Kansas for whom he had signed a three year contract in March 2010, but he would never play for them in the North American MLS, only making a cup appearance and the high profile friendly against Manchester United.

Since his strong performance in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup Chhetri is being linked with moves to other foreign leagues, but nothing concrete seems to have come through forcing him to come back to India. There was real interest from A-League side Perth Glory, but they could only bring him into Australia later in the year.

Chhetri is not new to the Kolkata Maidans as he had his first break with Mohun Bagan AC and later on also played for their archrivals East Bengal Club. So he is familiar with Kolkata football and if he can carry his Asian Cup form into the I-League then Chirag United are getting a very potent weapon in their attacking arsenal.

For Chhetri meanwhile his dream to play abroad isn't over. His first stint has ended and hopefully a new one will soon come his way...

KC Wizards become Sporting Kansas City

When Sunil Chhetri returns to his 'Major League Soccer' club in North America next year after the end of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup campaign with India he will be back at the same club, but under a new name. The Kansas City Wizards have renamed themselves to Sporting Kansas City this week to enter a new era for the club, which also coincides with the move to their new KC Soccer Stadium next summer.

But why would a club like the KC Wizards rename themselves to Sporting Kansas City? It is a trend seen across the MLS that as the football league grows across the US and Canada, the teams are becoming stronger entities and they are becoming more and more like European football clubs rather then being just North American sports franchises. Take e.g. Dallas Burn who renamed themselves to simply Dallas FC and they have grown their fanbase quite well over the last five years since changing their name.

Also in summer 2011 Sporting Kansas City will be moving into their brand new stadium which current has the tentative name of KC Soccer Stadium. The club owners OnGoal llc hope to sell the naming rights of the stadium to a sponsor on a long term contract. The stadium will have an initial capacity of 18,500 with the option of increasing capacity to 25,000 if the need arises and the venue will be another football only venue, which has become common practice in the MLS unlike in the past when MLS clubs used to play in huge American football stadiums with less then 10% attendence and no atmosphere.

As you can see from the above there is a strategy and long-term planning behind all decisions that such an MLS club takes. And as Sunil has said in numerous interviews, in Kansas City they have everything what players need to train and play football.


Follow the clubs new website under: www.sportingkc.com .

Chhetri - Staying in US or joining Team India?

This is a question which only Sunil Chhetri himself can answer, but he has to look at his short-term aim of playing first team football, also look at the upcoming Asian Cup and his club career after January 2011. It will be a difficult decision for Sunil Chhetri to make as he hasn't seen any first team action for the Kansas City Wizards in the North American "Major League Soccer" since joining them in March 2010. But what could be seen in the friendly match against Manchester United on Sunday was a match fit Sunil, so if Bob has any worries he could be getting a non-match fit player back later in the year, then he is at least for the moment wrong.

What has happened? Sunil Chhetri gave an interview to mlssoccer.com, the official mouth piece of the MLS. And some of his statements can be interpreted this way or the other way around. Sunil said, "There are times when I think it's just not happening, and I should move on and think of different alternatives. But then it's a kind of challenge for me. Everyone looks up to me in my country, and there is a point to prove. I came here to learn, and I think I can learn more over here. That really motivates me."

"It's been three months that I have been here working a lot and trying to understand the kind of game we play in Kansas City. It's been difficult because I am not used to all the things that happen over here but I am trying to do my best to acclimatize," Sunil further added.

This whole situation reminds me of what Baichung Bhutia faced about a decade back at Bury FC. Baichung at the time decided to stay in England and try to make it there, which in the end after three years didn't work out, still Baichung was more mature and wiser plus if you look back then the Bury days have helped him a lot.

Sunil has not talked to the media back in India, but reports in India have surfaced that Sunil is desperate to get back and join the national team at their training camp in Portugal. In some reports it sounded like the MLS adventure is over and it is time to return to India with unnamed sources within the AIFF telling the journalists. Can here, has Sunil spoken to someone at the AIFF?

I spoke to my friend Yogesh Joshee, who is Sunil's agent, to find out more and he gave me a somewhat different picture. Yogesh told me, "Sunil is happy at Kansas City, its a learning process for him in a new country, new surroundings. And it was clear from the onset that it wasn't going to be that Sunil just walks in and starts playing for the Wizards."

But Yogesh went on to add, "Yes, there has been a request from Bob and the AIFF to see if something could be worked out with the Wizards, so Sunil can join the national team for the rest of the year on loan. And we will have to see if a deal can be worked out."

In the end Sunil has to decide what he wants to do. But still he can take advice and help from his agent Yogesh Joshee, senior players like Baichung Bhutia, coach Bob Houghton plus family and friends.

Sunil Chhetri plays against Man U

It was a big day yesterday for our very own Sunil Chhetri, then the boy from Delhi came on as a substitute for his American MLS club Kansas City Wizards in an international friendly against English Premier League giants Manchester United.

There was a lot of buzz back home in India before the game that India's Sunil Chhetri would be playing against the biggest football club (I don't agree on this, its surely a point of discussion) in the world. And many Indian football fans had hoped Sunil would start for KCW, but Sunil had to stay put on the bench and stay there for 69 minutes to see his side play an entertaining game against their superior opponents from the old world.

More than 52,000 people came to the Arrowhead Stadium, the biggest ever attendance for a football game in Kansas. And many were in for a surprise as the Wizards took a surprise 11th minute lead through their captain Davy Arnaud. The Wizards looked the more dangerous side, but defender Jimmy Conrad brought down Dimitar Berbatov in the box. The referee pointed to the dreaded spot, gave Conrad a red card and then Berbatov coolly slotted home the ball in the 41st minute. But only seconds later on the other side Kei Kamara would head in a Ryan Smith corner for the winner.

The Wizards came under more pressure in the second session with a man down and the game slowed down as numerous substitutions were made. And then came the 69th minute when Sunil Chhetri came on for Canadian striker Teal Bunbury. And to me it was clear that Sunil would have a tough job as KCW were playing in a 4-4-1 system with only one striker. But he made his runs, was there to play one-twos with team mates and took two long range shots. But both where too weak and from too far away to bother Ben Amos in the United goal. United build some pressure towards the end, but Kansas City prevailed to score a historic 2-1 win against a depleted Manchested United. It was good to see Sunil on fire, he showed the urge to prove himself, he wasn't overawed by the occasion; so hopefully coach Peter Vermes will now start to use him as a sub in the MLS.

Before the game Sunil had the pleasure of meeting Man U's Portuguese star Nani. Surely a weekend to remember for Sunil. Now I hope he will get some playing time for the Kansas City Wizards in the MLS as Sunil needs match practice before rejoining Team India later in the year ahead of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

Chhetri to play against Manchester United

Indian international striker Sunil Chhetri is set to play for his MLS club Kansas City Wizards on Sunday against Manchester United in a friendly. It is a big occasion for the Major League Soccer club in the heartland of America, who will be facing one of the biggest club sides in the world.

And it is an even bigger honour that our own Sunil Chhetri will be facing Man U. And the task ahead of Sunil will be tough. Surely Manchester United will be missing a number of players who featured at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, but still Alex Ferguson will be able to field a competitive side. Sunil could be facing internationals like John O'Shea and Wes Brown or talented youngsters like Chris Smalling and Johnny Evans. But like most of his team mates Sunil will surely look forward to face legends like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes or Man U regulars like Nani, Darren Fletcher and Dimitar Berbatov.

But for Sunil it isn't just about facing a club like Manchester United. KC Wizards president Robb Heineman had said last weekend that Sunil will play against Man U as the club will test players ahead of upcoming MLS fixtures. And if Sunil can convince his coach about his qualities in this game, then he could get some chances in the league in the near future. He is said to have been training well and is close to the first eighteen squad.

But in some parts of the Indian media it has been wrongly reported that Sunil would be the first Indian footballer to face Manchester United in a friendly. Actually Sunil's team mate and role model Baichung Bhutia had faced Manchester United in a friendly match for his then club Bury FC in August 2001. And Baichung just didn't play, the Indian captain was a live wire for his club, scoring an offside goal and missing further chances in a half for Bury. And the story is that after the game Man U coach Alex Ferguson inquired about who the foreign Bury striker is. It was our own Baichung Bhutia, but sadly his English club career never took off.

All the best Sunil!