It's Going To End Soon But Not For Next Few Years: Sunil Chhetri Talks About Career

Sunil Chhetri revealed that "it's a fact that it (his career) is going to end soon" and tells himself to enjoy every moment of it.

Indian football's torch-bearer for the last 10 years and talismanic skipper Sunil Chhetri on Thursday said "it is going to end soon" while reflecting on his career but at the same time, also asserted that he is "not going anywhere for the next few years." The 37-year-old, who overtook the legendary Pele in the number of international goals with his 79th strike in the ongoing SAFF Championships match against the Maldives on Wednesday, turned philosophical while dissecting his approach towards the game in what is clearly the final leg of his glorious career.

Chhetri said "it's a fact that it (his career) is going to end soon" and tells himself to enjoy every moment of it.

"Now I have got a very simple mantra. Dost khade ho ja, bahut kam time bhacha hey, bahut kam game bache huwe hey, chup chaap ja aur apna best de. Thoda time pe khatam hone wala hey (I tell myself that there is very little time left, there are very few games left, go quietly and give your best. It is going to end in some time)," Chhetri said when asked how he picks himself up amid the ups and downs during his illustrious career.

"Stop crying, stop rejoicing, stop over-celebrating, stop putting yourself down because all these will end very soon. Right now I will pick up myself, go there and try to give my best because I know it's a fact that it's going to end soon."

But in the same breathe, he made it clear that the inevitable won't happen for the next few years.