Indian men’s football captain Sunil Chhetri backs Stimac’s call for 4-week camp

NEW DELHI : Backing head coach Igor Stimac’s call for a 4-week camp, Indian men’s football captain Sunil Chhetri said that it is essential for a team to have longer camps ahead of the AFC Asian Cup.

After completing a treble of titles in 2023, winning the Tri-Nation Cup, Intercontinental Cup, and the SAFF Championship, Indian men will be looking forward to participation in the King’s Cup in Thailand in September, and the Merdeka Cup in Malaysia in October, as part of their preparation for the AFC Asian Cup, scheduled to take place in Qatar from January 12 to February 10, 2024.

India, placed 100 in FIFA rankings, have been drawn in Group B of the AFC Asian Cup, where they will face the likes of Australia (22), Uzbekistan (74), and Syria (94).

“For a team like ours, especially for the Asian Cup, where we know we will face the likes of Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria, longer camps would always be helpful. When the boys play at the ISL, they are playing at a certain level. But let’s be honest, when we meet Australia, we would meet competition that is a couple of levels higher, if not more,” said Chhetri during a virtual media interaction on Sunday. IANS

Also Read: Indian badminton players PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen sail into semifinals

Also Watch: