Indian Football Team captain Sunil Chhetri paid heartfelt homage to Subrata Bhattacharya on Saturday. He expressed that it was the ex-Indian footballer and Mohun Bagan defender who instilled in him the true essence of passion. Chhetri credited him for teaching him the invaluable lesson of being deeply passionate about football.
“If there was one man who taught me all this, it is this man.” he said pointing at his former coach and now father-in-law.
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Chhetri was in Mohun Bagan for the annual day celebrations, which included the unveiling of Bhattacharya’s book. In 2002, the Indian skipper began his professional club football career with Mohun Bagan under coach Bhattacharya.
“I always heard everyone saying Babluda was a top player, he was like this or that. But I was not born then, and there are not many videos of his era. I’m sorry I can’t add much to it,” Chhetri said in his address during the Mohun Bagan Day function.
“But I just want to say one thing: When I first came here to play in 2002, at this very ground, I didn’t know what it meant to play for Mohun Bagan, the club’s legacy, the feeling for the jersey, he taught me all. ” added Sunil Chhetri.
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“He just told me, in good or bad times, play football. Forget everything, just think about football. There are so many things which are good about him…” he continued.
“But most importantly what I’ve learnt is no matter what, give your best. No matter what play for the club, no matter what play for the jersey. I will never forget that,” added Chhetri, the fourth leading goal-scorer in the world.
“Sholo Aana Bablu,” Bhattacharya’s autobiography, loosely translates as “fully Bablu,” a pun on the word “Sholo Aana.” For one rupee, as well as the former defender’s playing jersey number.
Former footballers Prasun Banerjee, Manoranjan Bhattacharya, Krishnendu Roy, Samaresh Chowdhury, and others, as well as Bagan and East Bengal club administrators, were there.
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