Bengaluru FC captain Sunil Chhetri has showered praise on youngster Sivasakthi Narayanan after he scored in the Durand Cup final against Mumbai City FC. The Blues won against the Islanders by 2-1 in a thrilling game at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on Sunday to become champions.

Sivasakthi put the team in front in the first half but Mumbai City FC bounced back after Apuia scored for them. However, Bengaluru FC once again took the lead after a powerful header from Alan Costa from Sunil Chhetri’s corner. This is Bengaluru FC’s first Durand Cup title and their first title in the last three years.

At 5’’4’, Sivasakthi had his work cut against towering Mumbai City defenders like Mourtada Fall and Rostyn Griffiths, but he was able to deliver the goods.

Chhetri feels a team is always going to win if it has players like Sivasakthi who are always willing to give their best.

“What a superstar he is!” said Chhetri of the 21-year-old. “When you have players like Sivasakthi in your team, you are always going to win.”

On the other hand, Bengaluru FC head coach Simon Grayson started his role on a high as he led the team to glory in the oldest football competition in the country. Grayson also heaped praise on Sivasakthi and stated that the 21-year-old deserved to play in the starting XI.

After the match, Grayson said: “He deserved to play today [Sunday] because he is so confident and he offers us something different. He is quick and runs off the top. And we have two technical players in Roy and Sunil, who allow him to do that.”

Bengaluru FC will begin their ISL 2022-23 campaign against NorthEast United FC at the Shree Kanteerva Stadium, Bengaluru on the 8th of October.