Dhanpal Ganesh: Chennaiyin can’t win trophies every season

Following Chennaiyin's disappointing performance in the Indian Super League and AFC Cup last season, midfielder Dhanpal Ganesh is hopeful that the team learns from its mistakes.

Dhanpal Ganesh in action for Chennaiyin FC.

After a bottom-place finish in the Indian Super League (ISL) last season, Chennaiyin FC midfielder Dhanpal Ganesh hopes the team has learnt from the mistakes of the past season and expects a better show this year.

"We can’t win trophies every season. We had a bad phase last season but we will surely rectify our mistakes," he told of team's poor showing to Sportstar on the sidelines of the Special Olympics International Football Championship 2019.

Chennaiyin was crowned winner of the ISL 2017-18 season but crumbled in the following season as it won only two of its 18 league matches and also failed to progress to the knockouts of the AFC Cup this year as Abahani Dhaka topped Group E.

The 28-year-old player, who was born in Chennai, believes the current state of football in Tamil Nadu has been affected due to the lack of local leagues. "Earlier, we had local leagues in Tamil Nadu but the league didn’t take place this year. That is something I feel bad about. I hope the local leagues commence soon since the lack of local league affects the Tamil Nadu players," he added.

Commenting about the football tournament underway in the city’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, he said, "The Special Olympics International Football Championship is happening in India for the first time, and the fact that it is happening in Tamil Nadu is great. The tournament helps create awareness among the special children of India and also encourages them to showcase their skills in the future."