Thaindian News

New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) Indian forward Sunil Chettri is hopeful of making an impact at Major League Soccer (MLS) club Kansas City Wizard.
“I am really happy to be in Kansas City Wizards. I am proud to be the first indian playing in the MLS. I need some time to settle down here and am sure that I will be able to do well here,” Chettri said during a teleconference from the US here Friday.

Chettri said that he hasn’t faced any problems during trials at Arizona and was impressed with the club’s facilities.

“The facilities here are excellent and I am not used to get such facilities everyday back home. I will listen to my coach, coaching staff, team-mates and others and try to understand them. I am going to come to training and give my best everyday,” he added.

The 25-year-old from Delhi also thanked his former club Dempo and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for their support.

“I thank Dempo for their support and they had released me for trials here. They were eyeing the I-League title and I know my absence must have caused problems for them. I also thank the AIFF for their support in my endeavour to play abroad and in MLS,” he said.

Wizards manager Peter Vermes is impressed with Chettri.

“Sunil is a crafty player and technically he’s very sharp. He is an attacking player,” said Vermes during the teleconference.

“It is difficult for players to just come in and fit into the team. But it was great to see that Chhetri easily settling down with the team during trial and a practice match he played. He is a bright prospect to make it to the playing team in future,” added Vermes.

Chettri becomes the eighth Asian and the first Indian to play in MLS. He will also be the first Asian to play for the Kansas City Wizards and the third Indian, after Mohammad Salim and Bhaichung Bhutia, to ply his trade outside of India.

Currently, MLS has representatives from over 55 countries playing for the 16 clubs.

Chhetri will be the third Indian-born professional athlete currently in American professional team sports.

The others are Pittsburgh Pirates minor-league pitchers Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel.

NFL Linebacker Brandon Chillar of the Green Bay Packers and former NFL wide receiver Sanjay Beach are also of Indian descent.

Chettri had earlier appeared for trials at Coventry City but failed to impress the officials. Indian-owned Queen’s Park Rangers also offered him a contract but Chettri failed to get a work permit due to India’s low FIFA rankings.