I just called Bengaluru FC and talked to Sunil Chhetri!

Bengaluru FC posted a message on Facebook calling for fans to call their hotline to see where they’re from. They’re a new club from Bangalore in India, so naturally, their following isn’t as a big. But, you know, they’ve made it big when they have India’s best striker Sunil Chhetri.

That being said, Bengaluru are at the top of the table with the surprise of Churchbill Brothers (Chhetri’s last club) languishing at the bottom. To my knowledge, Bengaluru FC are doing everything right with Indian football. Their website is one of the best in the I-League. Their stadium is beautiful. Their staff are helpful. They’re active on Twitter and Facebook. They are really a great club to support.

So, when I saw the post, I decided to call using Skype to use up my skype credits left. I didn’t think much of it before the call begin. I was just going to say hello, and say where I’m from — chit-chat for a bit — then get out but what I got was a different experience.

I take a deep breath. I call. I freak out. I start mumbling my words. The guy doesn’t know what exactly is going on. Neither do I. I hang up. Try again, this time, I explain why I’m calling. I start off with a bit about myself.

“Oh, you’re the Spaniard!”

See, about a few weeks ago, I messaged Bengaluru FC via Facebook to show my support after a great win. It turns out, I’ve been talked about in the office as that “Spaniard who likes Bengaluru FC.” Anyway, we get to talking about Subrata Pal and his Danish adventure. We talk about how Bengaluru FC has a great website and how its great how they are number one right now. Then he asks me for my favorite Bengaluru FC players: I say Pawan (since I’m a goalkeeper) but my favorite has got to be Sunil Chhetri.

“You want to talk to him?” the operator asks.

I’m in a shock. Did he really ask me what I think he just did?

I blurt out with glee ”Are you serious? I mean… really?”

After a quick, emphatic yes, I get transfered but before the call completes, I hear a voice in the background go “It’s a Spanish fan.” and then I hear the familiar voice of India’s best striker: Sunil Chhetri.

I go in to complete shock. I go into fanboy mode. I start saying things like “Wow, is this really happening? It’s you! Sunil Chhetri! Wow, best striker!” That kind of thing. I embarrassed myself. After about 10 seconds, I cooled down and told him about myself. Where I watch him, when I do. All while he is being very appreciative and supportive. We talk about how Bengaluru FC is at the top of the table and how good they are doing.

I am starting to realize I am just running on words. I realize that I didn’t want to annoy him so I cut the convo short. I told him I had better get going because he was a busy man. I wished him luck in the league and the country and I was on my merry way.

After realizing what I had just done, I became one happy supporter of India and my support for Bengaluru and Indian football grew even stronger. I tweeted about my adventure with Sunil and Bengaluru and I instantly got a re-tweet from both Bengaluru and Sunil Chhetri. I was noticed. I was appreciated as a fan.

I also got notice of their online shop going live in a few months. They told me to give them a message later on so they would be able to send me a jersey faster than normal. That was nice of them.

This was one of the best footbaling moments of my life, right next to Spain winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Via:Dan Jasnowski