Post Chhetri Plea, ‘Hu’ Chant Echoes in Mumbai as India Beat Kenya
Watch the Indian football team celebrate their victory against Kenya with the fans at the stadium in Mumbai.
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On Monday evening, 4 June, when the Indian football team took to the field, the country stood behind captain Sunil Chhetri and his boys.
The scenes at the Football Arena, after India's victory over Kenya in the Intercontinental Cup in Mumbai's Football Arena, helped by a brace from the captain himself, were reminiscent of Euro 2016 in France.
A little-known nation, Iceland, with a population of less than a city in India, took Europe by shock, defeating several big sides, including England.
The stadium in Mumbai echoed the "Hu" chant, made famous by Iceland fans who would respond to their team's breathtaking performance en route semi-finals in the Euro 2016.
The Indian side has made it to the final of the tournament which will take place on 10 June.
However, the match was significant for one other reason. It was after Chhetri's emotional plea to the nation. A video that went viral in the last few days featured Chhetri, in blue Indian jersey, imploring the football fans to come and watch the Indian side play in stadiums.
The fans responded to Indian captain's message, attending the match in numbers comparatively larger in a city not known for its affinity with football.
One of the top three leading scorers, after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, among active footballers in the international circuit, Chhetri was playing his 100th game in national colours.
The captain found the back of the net twice, compelling the fans to rise and honour the team's performance.
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