Bijay Chhetri, the emerging talent in Indian football, has finalized his transfer to Colon Futbol Club in Uruguay from Chennaiyin FC. The arrangement is a loan deal until the year’s end, with Colon Futbol Club having the option to secure his services permanently.
This move marks him as the pioneering Indian footballer to secure a professional contract with a Latin American club.
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Indian Talent Makes Historic Move to Uruguay: Bijay Chhetri Joins Colon Futbol Club
Colon Futbol Club, founded 116 years ago, is a renowned professional football club situated in Montevideo. Currently, they are active participants in the second division of Uruguay.
Vita Dani, co-owner of Chennaiyin FC, expressed her delight regarding Bijay’s transfer, commenting:“We are extremely proud to see Bijay make his way to one of the world’s biggest football nations. Uruguay are forever etched in the game’s history, with four stars on their chest as winners of two Olympic gold medals in 1924 and 1928, the first World Cup in 1930 and then repeating in Brazil in 1950.”
“And Colon Futbol Club are part of that heritage; founded even before the first World Cup. I wish Bijay the very best and we are all hoping for his success as he makes history as the first Indian player to secure a contract with a Latin American club.”
Marcelo Rifas, director of Colon Futbol Club, speaking on the transfer said, “When Bijay’s profile was proposed to us, looking at his videos from the past, his profile and our internal references we got more and more confident of the player. Now we sincerely hope he can come at the earliest and get integrated into our team. We see him as a solid first team player for us. It also helps us open a line of sourcing players from a new marketplace.”
In July last year, Chennaiyin, the two-time ISL champions, brought in Chhetri as part of their dedication to fostering and advancing young Indian talent. Since then, the skilled 22-year-old defender from Manipur has been undergoing training and refining his abilities under the guidance of the club’s experienced coaches.
“I feel so excited to get this opportunity for the new challenge in my professional career. I hope to put in good performances to enhance my game, repay the trust shown in me by Colon FC and to keep the Indian flag flying high. I am very well aware that If I do well it can pave the way for future Indian players also to move abroad into these markets.
“I wish to sincerely thank Vita Dani and the Chennaiyin FC management along with my agency Soccer Consultants Group for facilitating the transfer. Without their help it wouldn’t have been possible,” Chhetri expressed.
Who is Bijay Chhetri?
Hailing from Kanglatongbi in Imphal West district, Bijay, a central defender, marked his debut in India’s esteemed professional football league with the I-League club Indian Arrows. Prior to this, he represented Shillong Lajong FC in both the U-16 and U-18 teams.
In an interview with EastMojo, the young footballer shared that his elder brother, Ajay Chhetri, who himself is a professional footballer playing for East Bengal, introduced him to the world of football. Since then, Bijay has pursued his career as a professional player.
As the youngest member of his team, Bijay is currently the sole player from the northeast states representing Chennai City FC.
Having competed in one of the nation’s top football leagues, Bijay aspires to join the national team and represent India on international stages in the future.
“My goal is to represent the Indian team in international football tournaments. After retiring from my playing career, I aim to establish a fitness gym and guide young athletes towards maintaining physical fitness and health,” Bijay expressed.
Highlighting Manipur’s reputation for producing exceptional athletes and contributing to the nation’s sports prowess, Bijay encourages aspiring footballers to emulate the achievements of renowned sports stars.
For those interested in pursuing a career in sports, particularly football, Bijay advises starting at academies and joining local clubs. Through dedicated practice and commitment, they can progress to become professional players.
Despite the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, many sports academies and local clubs in the state continue to face challenges, impacting the performances and prospects of athletes.
