Tears of adieu! Sunil leaves India grieving

lsquoSobai bhalo thakben sobai khusi thakbenrsquo were the last words of Indiarsquos longserving captain Sunil Chhetri his voice quivering with restrained sentimentality as he wrestled with his emotions while delivering his farewell speechChhetri revered for his grace finesse and impeccable timing on the football pitch captivated hearts anew on an unforgettable Thursday this time not with the ball at his feet but with his brief address at the end of a goalless World Cup qualifying match In a poignant farewell address that moved everyone both within the stadium and across the country the esteemed forward peeled back the layers of his legendary cricketing persona to reveal the essence of the man behind the iconBefore the start of the match All India Football Federation AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey and West Bengal sports minister Arup Bhattacharya greeted himWelcome Sunil Chhetri chetrisunil11 to the beginning of a glorious new journey You start a new phase of life today West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote in her post on XYou have been a golden boy of Bengal Captain of the Indian football team a sports icon of Asia a globally adored scorer a giant achiever I am sure that you will continue to play add to our glory and achieve many more laurels for yourself and us It is not a day of farewell for you It is a day to renew your pledge to uphold the glory of your family Bengal and India further and further Wish and pray for your future successesrdquo she wroteThe match which saw India settle for a goalless draw against Kuwait was overshadowed by the emotional resonance of Chhetrirsquos departure Amid a sea of fervent supporters he began with a choked voice beseeching the crowd to settle and striving to conceal the wellspring of tears threatening to spill forthDuring the match the 39yearold exuded an unmistakable vigour effortlessly surpassing his younger counterparts on the field driven by the desire to enhance his already illustrious record of 94 goals in his 151st appearanceJust last month Chhetri made the poignant decision to bid adieu to his illustrious career in international football Amid a plethora of achievements his indelible mark on Indian football is unmistakable His instrumental role in Indias triumphs at the Nehru Cup in 2007 2009 and 2012 underscores his exceptional talent and invaluable contributions to the teams triumphsFurthermore his prowess on the field played a pivotal role in securing Indias victories in the 2011 2015 2021 and 2023 SAFF Championships solidifying his status as a beacon of success for Indian football Notably Chhetris leadership was pivotal in Indias conquest of the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup marked by a memorable hattrick in the final This historic victory not only secured Indias place in the AFC Asian Cup but also marked their return to the prestigious tournament after a 27year hiatusOn Thursday amid the fervent cheers of the crowd chanting lsquoSunil Sunilrsquo and the resonant refrains of lsquoVande Mataramrsquo a pivotal moment materialised in the first half of the showdownIt unfolded in the 11th minute as Liston Colaco showcased his agility down the left wing delivering a precision low cross into the penalty area Positioned strategically to seize the opportunity Chhetri was primed to make his mark only to be thwarted by Hasan Alanezis timely intervention with a sliding clearanceWhile the absence of his esteemed fatherinlaw and former mentor Subrata Bhattacharya was palpable Chhetri found solace in the unwavering support of his wife Sonam alongside their ninemonthold son Dhurv and brotherinlaw Saheb Bhattacharya who stood as pillars of encouragement from the standsThe ones who have watched in videos the ones who have taken autographs the ones the oldtime supporters thank you everyone These 19 years would not have been possible without every one of you and I genuinely mean it For everyone who is here thank you so much I think I will speak from my heart Chhetri said as tears flowed freely and chants of lsquoSunil Sunilrsquo reverberatedBut even that wasnt the most touching sight of the day That came right at the end after all the commemorations were over His fans continued chanting for Chhetri till long after hed walked back into the dressing room reluctant to break the magical spell and return to mundane reality After all he had just retired Later there was a scramble to wave goodbye to the departing team busThroughout the day messages flashed on our phone screens Legends dont retire said one Unfortunately Chhetri had just done so Quite gracefully