Sunil Chhetri @SCP: Do as much as I can!

India captain Sunil Chhetri took part in an autograph session of his club Sporting Clube de Portugal at Lisbon's coolest tube station at Baixa-Chiado on Tuesday evening. The hundreds of fans who turned out to catch a glance of the new Alvalade arrival certainly kept the Indian star busy, but Sunil Chhetri's Kolkata experience surely helped him as he proved keen to answer a variety of questions from the local media.

Sunil Chhetri spoke to SCP media on the sidelines of the fan interaction.


Will you stay with the reserve team for now?

Yes, exactly. As I have already said, for a player like me who comes from a country like India it is very difficult and I can see that now. The training with the reserve team (Sporting 'B') is also very intense, so right now I am trying my best to give everything that I can.


Do you have aspirations to get into the first team?

Well, to be honest that isn't in my mind right now. Like I just said, it is also very competitive in the reserve team and it isn't easy for me as part of that team either. My first objective is to become something in the reserve team and to just do as much as I can. It really isn't easy in the reserve team right now, so for me thinking about the first team is still too far away. We need to be realistic and I am more focused on becoming a good member of the reserve team first.


Has the team coach had a talk with you?

Yes he (Oceano Andrade da Cruz ) has! He was very kind and very encouraging. The first thing that he told me to do was to get comfortable over here (in Portugal), to try to be happy and to do my best in training.


What are your thoughts on your teammates from the first team?

I haven't had much interaction with the first team. They train at different times then us. I have talked to them a couple of times and they have all been very nice, but the guys from the reserve team have also been very nice and very helpful. They are all open with me and they have all made me welcome, so I really thank them for that. They are all very young, most of them even younger than me.


You were supposed to be with the national team for a few games. What happened?

We have a very important tournament for India coming up (Nehru Cup), which starts on the 22nd of August. The Club has already been told about it, so I will act according to whatever decision Sporting makes. I am sure that everybody will go through FIFA's rules and regulations, so when I am allowed to leave the Sporting squad I will go and join the (India) team.

Exclusive PHOTOs from Sunil Chhetri's SCP autograph signing session

Here are exclusive photos from India captain Sunil Chhetri alongside Sporting Clube de Portugal 'A' team goalkeeper Marcelo Boeck, who were the stars of an autograph session at Lisbon's coolest tube station at Baixa-Chiado. Several hundred fans waited patiently for Sunil and Marcelo's autograph and photos!

And further dozens of journalists including TV stations also were there for Sunil Chhetri's first public appearance as a Sporting player.

Sunil Chhetri scores in Sporting Lisbon B's 5-0 win!

Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri played his first pre-season friendly in a Sporting Clube de Portugal shirt for their 'B' against 1º de Maio Futebol Clube Sarilhense at the SCP Academy complex in Alcochete on Saturday afternoon. And it was a perfect start for Sunil as he scored the final goal in his teams convincing 5-0 win besides also hitting the woodwork.

The new-look SCP 'B' team coached by Oceano Andrade da Cruz scored at will in the closed door match against 1º de Maio Futebol Clube Sarilhense in which Luis Almeida (Kikas) scored twice with the other scorers being Gael Junior Etock, Nii Adamah Plange and Sunil Chhetri.

Sunil Chhetri came on as a substitute before scoring the fifth and final goal, also having another chance hit the woodwork. Amongst those present it was said that Sunil looked to have adjusted quickly to his new team mates and the Portuguese conditions after only a couple of training days. He is said to be focused and learning quickly.

But this was only a small start for Sunil then close to a month of pre-season remain until August 12 when the Portuguese Liga de Honra (second Division) kicks-off. Numerous more friendlies and training sessions to prove that he has it what it takes to be a key member of the SCP 'B' squad for the new season remain and also convince the Portuguese media and SCP fans.

Sunil Chhetri has successful training start at Sporting Lisbon

Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri landed on Wednesday evening in the Portuguese capital Lisbon amid a media frenzy with Sporting Clube de Portugal fans at the airport to welcome him to the Verde-e-Brancos (Green and White). A welcome which Sunil was surely surprised to see, it will have somewhat have reminded him of joining one of the Kolkata giants - East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.

Thereafter it was time to spend the first night at the SCP Academy and then Sunil Chhetri had to undergo the mandatory medical check-up on Thursday morning. Everything was fine as per the medical report card, so Sunil could meet his new team mates at Sporting Clube de Portugal's 'B' in the afternoon.

Yesterday afternoon he not only met his new team mates, but directly had his first training session under his new coach Oceano Andrade da Cruz and there was instant success for Sunil then he did score in his first practice session. Sunil had further training sessions today, Friday and again scored.

One thing is clear that Sunil is loving every second of his time at Sporting Clube de Portugal so far and he wants to prove his quality in their 'B' team against highly talented players who are all younger then him. His experience at Kansas City Wizards, the trials at Coventry City and Glasgow Rangers, and the India camps in Portugal/Spain now are very useful for the India striker.

Exclusive PHOTOs from Sunil Chhetri's arrival in Lisbon

Here some photos from yesterday evening as Sunil Chhetri arrives at the Lisbon Portela airport with the Portuguese media interested to speak to him about his new stint with Sporting Clube de Portugal.

VIDEO: Sunil Chhetri has arrived in the Portuguese capital Lisbon!

This is a local video clip from Portugal on Sunil Chhetri's arrival yesterday evening in Lisbon. You can see the massive media interest there was about Sunil joining Sporting Clube de Portugal and the cool-headed and wise answers the India captain gave.

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.