3. Probing New Territory: Kansas City Wizards
- By Chiranjit Ojha
- August 03, 2016
3. Probing New Territory: Kansas City Wizards
In 2010, Sunil became the first ever Indian player to secure a contract with an Major League Soccer club. He joined Kansas City Wizards, and soon made his debut in a cup game that and lasted a half.
But getting some time in the league was going to be a tough challenge. This being his first stint with an overseas club, and the setup over there being very different from what Sunil was used to at I-League clubs, he was set for a slow and hard ride up the ladder to make his mark at the club. But he was up for it.
He didn't make the first team. A few months later he was allowed to play for a while in a friendly match against Manchester United, but before he could really establish himself at the club came a crucial turning point.
Bob Houghton wanted the national team to stay together for a significant amount of time before they went into the Asian Cup. So AIFF designed a programme that was to keep the players together for nearly seven months. Sunil answered the call of the country, knowing full well it would undo the progress he had made so far at the club. He left to join the national team, and with it ended his opportunity to play an MLS game.
