Coach Stephen Constantine says the Indian football team has done enough in the last few years to merit a decent crowd turnout, and begging was one thing it did not deserve.
Constantine was asked about skipper Sunil Chhetri's impassioned plea urging people to come and cheer the team in the ongoing Intercontinental Cup here.
Chhetri's video post struck a chord with the Mumbaikars, who turned up in droves for the second game against Kenya, two days after giving the tournament opener a miss.
It was Chhetri's 100th international game and he made it memorable by scoring a brace and guiding India into the final following a 3-0 win.
As the discussion turned to crowd at the post-match press conference, Constantine said, "Look, I have said it before and I don't feel that we should be begging people to come and watch the national team.
"The response today was unbelievable, what I expect from the Blue Pilgrims and the rest of the people, it's not only the Blue Pilgrims.
"... But the national team is playing in the manner, we've been playing for last three and half years, and the things that we have achieved in three and half years, (and) we still feel disappointed to see such a crowd in the last game.
He added, "Today I thank every single one of them and I expect them to be here for the following two games."
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