Despite a poor start to the 2025/26 ISL season, recent form and fan support in the capital indicate that Sporting Club Delhi is enjoying their new life in Delhi, having renamed and relocated from Hyderabad before to the season’s start.
And one of the players who has been in sublime form so far in the 2025/26 ISL season is Joseph Sunny, the striker of the team. Joseph, who initially joined the Hyderabad FC academy, made his way to the senior squad in the 2023/24 season and has remained with the club even after the rebranding.
It’s fair to say that the striker has been in top form this season, scoring three goals and assisting once. Footy India was able to sit down for a special conversation with the young forward and discuss his career development, season thus far, season objectives, and other things. (before the clash against Chennaiyin FC)
Joseph Sunny on settling in at Delhi:
Having moved from Hyderabad to Delhi following the rebranding of the club, the players would surely face challenges adjusting to the new city’s environment and atmosphere. Joseph discussed the team’s transition from Hyderabad and how the supporters have helped them settle in.
“I stayed in Hyderabad for the last four years. So, I really like Hyderabad very much, but coming to Delhi, by seeing the fans, it’s great to see. It’s a new team and the main thing is the fans. In Hyderabad, for the past two years fans were really less and now here coming to Delhi seeing the fans, they are slowly filling up the stands and to see the support of the fans, I like that more.”
Joseph Sunny on his time at Hyderabad FC:
Having come through the academy and broken into the first team, Hyderabad FC played a significant role in Joseph Sunny’s career progression. It was quite evident that the club went through financial difficulties before the BC Jindal Group’s takeover. However, those challenging times created opportunities for young players like Sunny to prove themselves in the ISL, and the youngster spoke about his experience at the club.
“I was not thinking about anything about money or finance. For me, I wanted to prove. So, it was a good opportunity for me to prove. I was only thinking about I want to play, how can I improve myself. Yes, I struggled a lot. But the main thing was in my mind was, I want to show I have the quality to play in the ISL because ISL is the top league in India. So, I wanted to show that I am the guy who can be there in the ISL. For me, playing was more important at that time.”
Joseph Sunny on Thangboi Singto and Shameel:
“Thangboi coach was a really good character and how he managed the players is like in the next level. Telling jokes to young players, it’s not a normal thing that I have seen. So, the way he managed people was really good. And as a coach, he gave me a big opportunity, and he also trusted me and gave me an opportunity to play. And I also showed him that, yeah, you can trust me.”
“From there, the journey started. And the next year, in the middle of the season, something went wrong and the coach had to go. But after that Shameel coach came, he also gave me a good opportunity. So, both the coaches are really important for me, and they played a big role in my career.”
Joseph Sunny on working with Tomasz Tchorz:
At Delhi, Joseph is working under Tomasz Tchorz, a coach who has spent a long time developing young talent in the Indian football circuit. The Polish head coach has played a key role in the rise of players like Vibin, Aimen, Azhar, and Jeakson, among others. Joseph spoke about his experience of working with Tomasz so far and how he is improving under him on a daily basis.
“I think he worked for Kerala Blasters, I think five years or more, I guess. And I think he has already experience with all the young players from under 18 so. He knows how to see a youngster. He knows what this player has, what quality this player has and what can he showcase. So, for me as a coach for a youngster, he is too good.”
Joseph Sunny on his best mentor so far:
“Joao Victor and our last year captain, Andrei Alba. They both are really experienced players. So, they will tell us what to do when we are not playing well or when we are playing good, or when we do a miss pass or when our decisions are bad. So, these two guys have a good character. So, we can go and ask them, if this is good, this is good. They were the guys who can lead us or we can go and ask what we have to do next.”
Joseph Sunny on his scoring run and this season’s goal tally target:
Joseph has been in impressive goalscoring form this season, netting three times in his last three games (prior to the Chennaiyin FC clash). He recently grabbed a brace against NorthEast United with two clinical, striker-esque finishes. The youngster spoke about how scoring goals boosts his confidence heading into matches and also shared his ambitions in terms of the number of goals he wants to achieve this season.
“It gives really good confidence because scoring twice in a match, it boosts more confidence. So, goals give us confidence, but I think the work that we put behind these goals, the work that people don’t see, like what we do in the training, that’s more important. That gives you more confidence than these goals.”
“It’s like I wanted to score in every match. It’s not like I want to score 10 or anything. If I don’t score it in the last match, I will try to score in the next match. So, for me, I want to score at least one goal in one match. Or if I don’t score, I should do something for the team, to my brothers to score. That is my mindset or that is what I’m aiming for more than a goal.”
Joseph Sunny on his preferred playing position:
“I like to play both attacking midfielder and a striker. So, I prefer that two positions more because I think I’m good in close areas or tight spaces. So yeah, I like to play more a 10 or a 9. But for me, I need to play. Whether it’s a winger or a striker or a tight midfielder, I like to play. That’s the main thing.”
Joseph Sunny on the season so far:
Sporting Club Delhi started the season poorly, losing three games in a row. However, after that setback, they have steadily improved, with two draws and two victories in their following four games (Form before the Chennaiyin FC game). Joseph discussed the rough start to the season and what improved following the third game.
“The first three matches, it was hard. Maybe some blunders or maybe some misses. But we all learned from that. And we do the same thing, to improve. What we started in the beginning of the season, we used to do the same work again and again. Maybe consistency is the key. We are winning, in the last two games, we won, before those two draws. I think the consistency was the important thing.”
Joseph Sunny on the ambitions for the season:
“We are really looking for the top four. Because now, we have the quality to play and the quality to be there. We will try very hard to be finish in the top four. Because you see the games we played, the way we are playing is new to Indian football, maybe. We are really looking forward to the top four. It will be a good finish in the first season itself for the club.”
Joseph Sunny on his aspirations to represent the NT:
It’s quite rare to see Indian players step up and deliver top-class finishing the way Joseph has shown so far this season. Given the form he is in, he would have surely caught the attention of India U-23 head coach Naushad Moosa, and possibly Khalid Jamil as well. When asked about a potential national team call-up, Joseph quickly downplayed the talk, insisting that his focus remains on improving every day.
“In my mind, I’m only thinking about the next thing, what I can do. I’m not thinking about anything far beyond that. Because, if I put the hard work and I keep on working, everything will come. So, I’m not thinking about anything. I’m just trying to focus on the next match and trying to be on the scoresheet also for the next match.”
Joseph Sunny’s message to SC Delhi fans:
“I really love to see the fans and they are unbelievable. Because in Delhi, I think more of the cricket culture is there. And the people who are coming to watch us, they are trying hard to come and watch us. When we are on the pitch and we see the fans, it’s like, yeah, we want to show something now. Because they have travelled from a long distance, maybe one hour, two hours, they travelled, but they are still there to watch us.”
“For me, from all the players, our vision will be like, we have to give them something back. Because they are giving up their time to get enjoyed. And if we are not capable of making them enjoy, then it’s our mistake. So, we always try to give 100%. And we will always give that for the fans. And we really love the fans in Delhi. I think they are the pure fans who would like to watch us play and win the title someday.”
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