India football team players on Monday urged football fans to pack the Salt Lake Stadium for their AFC Asian Cup final round qualifiers, echoing captain Sunil Chhetri that crowd support will be their inspiration.
“Playing in front of fans is such an inspiration. I can understand it’s going to be crazy and super fun at the stadium simply because this city is the hub of Indian football. Come out and support us,” midfielder Anirudh Thapa said.
In a video message release by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) last week, Chhetri had said: “With you guys behind, it’s a different level... Let the three teams play against us and plus you, that would be the massive difference. If you are free please come and support us.”
Thapa’s fellow midfielder Abdul Sahal thinks it’s time to “cash in on the home advantage”. “It’s really important for us to qualify — nothing else matters. We have the home advantage, and we need to make it count,” Sahal said.
Winger Ashique Kuruniyan said that it had been tough for the players to play in front of empty galleries. “The pandemic cost us live sporting action in front of the fans. Not only did the fans suffer, the players too missed the roar from the stands. It’s time to hold hands and walk the path together. I urge all to come to the stadium and cheer for us,” Kuruniyan said.
“The best part is that the qualifiers are happening in India, and here…. The fans always spur us on.”
India open their campaign against Cambodia on Wednesday, followed by matches against Afghanistan on Saturday and Hong Kong on June 14.
Defender Rahul Bheke believes that the fans bring in positivity. “It’s so positive that we will finally be playing in front of our fans. The pandemic cost us the charm of packed stands for understandable reasons. It will certainly be a boost. The Calcutta fans are extremely passionate, and I request all of them to get together for India,” Bheke said.
“The boys have been sweating hard for almost one-and-a-half months. The sacrifices that have gone into this preparation make it all the more significant for us as players. It’s important that we go through to the Asian Cup. We need to win the games, and qualify,” he added.
