New Delhi: India forward Sunil Chhetri is all set for his Major League Soccer (MLS) debut as he has been included in Kansas City Wizards' 24-man roster for their US Open Cup qualifier against Colorado Rapids.
Chhetri made it to the 24-man roster after Hungarian forward Zlotan suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (knee) in the second half of the Wizards' game against AC St. Louis April 3. Zlotan has been ruled out until September.
"Sunil is a guy that has good attacking tendencies. He's had a bit of time to settle in, so it should be a seamless transition," Wizards manager Peter Vermes was quoted as saying by the club's website.
Chhetri has performed well in the two practice matches scoring four goals, including a hat-trick against the University of Evansville two weeks ago.
An excited Chhetri said: "I'm very excited to be able to appear with the team. We have a good squad and I'm going to give my best to help us on the field."
Chhetri is expected to play in Tuesday's match at the Stanley H Durwood Soccer Stadium on the campus of the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC).
With his addition to the Wizards' roster, Chhetri becomes the eighth Asian and first Indian to play in MLS. He will also be the first Asian citizen to play for the Kansas City Wizards and the third Indian soccer player ever to ply his trade outside of his home nation.
Chhetri also becomes just the third India-born professional athlete currently in American professional team sports. Pittsburgh Pirates minor-league pitchers Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel are the other two.
National Football League (NFL) Linebacker Brandon Chillar of the Green Bay Packers and former NFL wide receiver Sanjay Beach are both of Indian descent as well.
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