It was a small gesture the whole team wanted to do:"" Sunil Chhetri on handing the SAFF Championship trophy to team manager Velu Dhayalamani

India won their 9th SAFF Championship on the 4th of July at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore after beating Kuwait in a thrilling finale. When everyone at the stadium was still present 20 minutes post the match, expecting captain Sunil Chhetri to pick up the trophy on behalf of the team, all were surprised. Sunil Chhetri asked one of the men from the team management to come and accept the trophy on behalf of the team. It was the Indian football team manager, Velu Dhayalamani.

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"Oh man, he is outstanding man," Sunil had an instant smile on his face when he was asked about Velu Dhayalamani and why he had decided to let him accept the SAFF Championship trophy on behalf of the whole Indian team.

"I mean, there are so many personalities who work hard for the national team. But, I am not sure if there is anyone who works harder and with so much of heart than Velu sir," Sunil Chhetri told the media in a virtual press meet conducted by the AIFF.

Who is Velu Dhayalamani?

Velu Dhayalamani is from Bengaluru. He was the team manager of the Indian Football team during the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017. Post that, he was the team manager of Indian Arrows as well. With the recent title, this was his second SAFF Championship win as team manager after 2021 in Maldives.

With a rise smile on his face, Sunil kept on acknowledging Velu Dhayalamani's efforts and hard work for the team. "He is a complete favourite of all of us. You will not hear anyone say anything wrong about Velu sir. We all are in debt of him," Sunil Chhetri added.

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"He is one of the guys; if you say, Velu sir, can I have the moon, please? He will come back to you and say, you know what, let me try this for you, captain."

"In my head, I had already planned this that when this happens, I will go hand it over to him. Anyways whenever we win a trophy, I always think of giving it to somebody. Because I feel a little bit weird, we all work hard, and I always take the centre stage, anyways I am one who is talked about. I don't like that. That's why I always pick some or the other. But, this time, it had to be Velu sir."

Sunil Chhetri on hadning the SAFF Championship trophy to Velu Dhayalamani at the presentation ceremony

Sunil Chhetri believes that it is the backroom that keeps the team going. From managing their stays to taking care of their families who come to support them and everything, it is people like Velu Dhayalamani that make everything go in a long 54-day camp like the team had now.

"That man does not sleep. He does everything so perfectly is beyond understanding. It was a small gesture the whole team wanted to do. We are so happy that it made him happy."