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FC Goa secure Nongdomba Naorem signing

By Sanjay Jadhav 25 August 2021

Goa: FC Goa confirmed that they have completed the signing of young winger Nongdomba Naorem on a free transfer.

The 21-year-old has put pen to paper on a long-term contract after passing medical and agreeing personal terms.

Immediately after inking the deal, Naorem told fcgoa.in: “Today is a big day. I am very happy to sign for one of the biggest clubs in India. It’s a club that I feel is the best fit for me and is one that I have admired for a long time.

“I am now looking forward to understanding what the coach demands from me and script a new chapter in my life.”

FC Goa’s Director of Football Ravi Puskur was also delighted at having completed formalities. He said, “We’re delighted to secure the services of Nongdamba. He’s a highly technical player and has the directness needed in one on one situations for a player in his position. He caught our eye with his performances for Mohun Bagan in the I-League in the 19/20 season and was unlucky to have his season curtailed by injury last year. We feel that he can develop into a player who fits very well into our system and can become a differential player with a real emphasis on providing the end product.”

Nongdomba moves to Goa after two seasons with Kerala Blasters – the first of which he spent out on loan with Mohun Bagan, helping them to the I-League title in 2020 alongside fellow Gaur Alexander Romario Jesuraj. That season saw him bag 2 goals and 5 assists in 16 games for the Mariners.

Last season saw him play 3 games in the ISL in the colours of Kerala before an unfortunate injury brought down the curtains to his campaign earlier than expected.

Hailing from Wabagai in Manipur, Nongdomba came through the ranks at the Minerva Punjab Academy. He shot to fame first with some eye-catching performances for the Indian national U17 team in the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2017.

He has since then gone on to play for the Indian Arrows in the I-League before making the switch to Kerala. His sole campaign in that competition will be remembered for a breathtaking solo goal – which saw the nimble-footed winger cut in from the left before dribbling and willing past 5 Shillong Lajong defenders before slotting the ball past the keeper.

(FC Goa Media)

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Transfers

Chennaiyin FC sign Polish striker Lukasz Gikiewicz

By Sanjay Jadhav 21 August 2021

Chennai: Two-time Indian Super League (ISL) champions Chennaiyin FC (CFC) have signed Polish striker Lukasz Gikiewicz on one-year deal ahead of the upcoming season.

The centre-forward is the fifth foreign signing for Marina Machans.

Lukasz, whose 200-plus club appearances so far have 49 goals and 21 assists to show for, will be eager to make his mark in his debut campaign in India’s premier football league.

“We look forward to Lukasz strengthening our attack and providing much-needed goals this season. This is a very positive signing for us,” said CFC co-owner Vita Dani.

Lukasz has also played in other Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Bahrain. He had finished top scorer of the 2017-18 Jordanian Pro League while playing for Al-Faisaly Amman.

“I am very happy to join the club. My aim is to immediately help the team in getting a third ISL title. The fans deserve it and so does the club that has won the league two times already,” Lukasz told the club media team.

Lukasz has featured in two of the world’s biggest club tournaments, the Europa League and the Champions League, making a combined 12 appearances. During his spell at Polish outfit Slask Wroclow, he played a crucial role in the club’s second league title in 2011-12 and also helped them lift the Polish Super Cup in the next year.

“Lukasz is a team player with good experience and a great personality. I believe he will help the team in many aspects, especially with goals,” CFC head coach Bozidar Bandovic commented.

After beginning his professional career 13 years ago with Polish club Olimpia Elblag, Lukasz, now thirty-three, has also played in Cyrpus, Bulgaria and Romania.

(Chennaiyin FC Media)

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Transfers

Chennaiyin FC rope in talented young Indian defender Davinder Singh

By Sanjay Jadhav 13 August 2021

Chennai: Two-time Indian Super League (ISL) champions Chennaiyin FC (CFC) have completed the signing of Indian defender Davinder Singh on a one-year deal ahead of the upcoming season.

The 25-year-old Indian international will be eager to get back to the field after missing the last three editions of the ISL with a knee injury suffered ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

“With Indian players taking up more and more responsibility, we are delighted to further strengthen our defensive department with a prospect such as Davinder,” CFC co-owner Vita Dani commented on the player’s arrival to Marina Machans.

Davinder’s rise was meteoric, from university football to the national squad, his performances for the India’s U-23 team at the 2018 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Championship qualifiers, had impressed former national team coach Stephen Constantine.

And so, the former Punjab University defender earned his senior team debut at 2018 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship. He has made three international appearances for The Blue Tigers so far.

“With Chennaiyin FC’s rich history in the Indian Super League, it is a tremendous honour for me to become a part of this club. The passion of the fans and the club’s family-led ethos made it a very easy decision for me to sign.

I am very excited to be working with head coach Boško and my new teammates, some who I have known for years. I have always given my 100% and this season, I am even more determined to bring success back to Chennaiyin FC and my ambition is to make my way back to representing the Indian national team again. I believe this will happen,” the Patiala-born footballer said.

Davinder debuted in the ISL in 2017-18 with Mumbai City FC. He had nine appearances for the Islanders, including one Super Cup outing. On his debut match against Kerala Blasters FC, the talented right-back was also adjudged the Emerging Player of the Match.

Making his return to the league with CFC, Davinder will be eager to make up for lost time with a title at CFC and a spot in the Indian national team.

(Chennaiyin FC Media)

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Transfers

Mumbai City FC complete signing of Lalengmawia ‘Apuia’ Ralte

By Sanjay Jadhav 13 August 2021

Mumbai: Mumbai City FC have confirmed that the club has agreed a deal with NorthEast United for the transfer of Lalengmawia for an undisclosed fee. The promising young midfielder joins the defending ISL Champions on a five-year contract until May 2026.

Lalengmawia, or Apuia Ralte as he’s fondly known, rose through the ranks of the AIFF Elite Academy and made his name after being the only player from Mizoram to make it to India’s squad for the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup. After two hugely impressive seasons that followed in the I League with the Indian Arrows, where Apuia made 13 appearances and scored a goal, the central midfielder signed for NorthEast United in the ISL ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

The 20-year old turned out on 10 occasions in his debut campaign for the Highlanders and stepped it up in the following season, featuring in each of the 22 games and scoring a memorable strike from distance in NorthEast United’s run to the semifinals in the recently concluded 2020-21 season.

Apuia marked a milestone season in his short career as he led out NorthEast United as the youngest captain in ISL history before being named ISL’s Emerging Player of the Season and the FPAI Young Player of the Season for 2020-21. His outstanding performances in the domestic season earned him his first call up to the Indian National Team, as he made his international debut for the Blue Tigers against Oman in a 1-1 draw earlier this year.

With a bright, promising future ahead, Apuia joins Mumbai City ahead of a historic season with a chance to defend both, the ISL League Winners’ Shield and the ISL Trophy, and represent India at the 2022 AFC Champions League.

Apuia Ralte said “Firstly, I want to thank NorthEast United for giving me the opportunity to play at the highest level in India but now, I feel I am ready to take the next step in my career. To join a club of Mumbai City’s stature is a huge honour for me and for my family. The club has the ambition and the intent, not just to win titles in India but to make a mark in Asia as well and I want to be a part of it. The club had a hugely successful last season and I believe we’re on the right path to build something special here. I am still young, I have a lot to learn and I am looking forward to getting to work with the coach Sergio Lobera, his staff and my new teammates.”

Head Coach, Sergio Lobera said “A player of Apuia’s calibre brings a lot of quality to the team and reminds us that if you are good enough, you are old enough. He is an exciting talent, possibly the best of his generation, and he is the right type of individual that we want at Mumbai City. There is no doubt that there is great maturity and flair in the way he plays his football and we want to give Apuia the right platform and the right guidance to become the exceptional player that he can be at Mumbai City for years to come. I am pleased to welcome Apuia to the club and I wish him all the good health and success.”

Club co-owner, Bimal Parekh said: “We are delighted to be able to bring in a talented young boy like Apuia to Mumbai City. It is no surprise that we faced considerable competition for his signature given the sheer quality Apuia brings to the table. Although he is only 20, we are confident that Apuia can make a difference right away and at the same time, we want to help him achieve to his full potential as well. We are committed to his long-term development and we will spare no effort to provide Apuia the right opportunities and platform within the Indian football ecosystem and beyond.”

(FC Mumbai City Media)

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FC Goa rope in Spanish striker Airam Cabrera

By Sanjay Jadhav 13 August 2021

Goa: FC Goa announced the signing of Spanish forward Airam Cabrera on a one-year deal. Cabrera, 33, has the experience of playing across some of the top leagues in Europe – having strutted his stuff at various levels in Spain and the top leagues of Poland (Ekstraklasa) and Cyprus (Protathlima Cyta).

Coming through the ranks at CD Tenerife, Cabrera has gone on to play for a number of Spanish clubs, viz. Villarreal B, Cordoba, Numancia, Lugo, Cadiz and Extremadura. He has also had three stints in the Polish top flight, scoring 30 goals and assisting 4 in 60 appearances in the Ekstraklasa playing for Wisla Plock, Cracovia and Korona Kielce.

“I want to thank FC Goa for the trust and faith they have put in me. I believe this will be another wonderful chapter in my life. I am really looking forward to playing in India and experience the amazing state of Goa. I’m delighted to be here,” said Cabrera after putting pen to paper. “I want to help the team with goals and all the experience I acquired in Europe – to help in growing the team.”

“I feel good, I feel motivated. I have done my homework and I feel I fit really well with the philosophy that the Club has about football and believe that I have all the tools necessary to succeed here in India.”
FC Goa’s Vice President – Strategy, Ravi Puskur also weighed in on the much-anticipated signing. He said, “We’re pleased to bring Airam on board. He’s a player we have monitored closely over the years and we have always found him to be an ideal fit for our style of football.

“His ability to operate between the lines, excellent link-up play and movement along with a good work rate off the ball are all right up there with what we were hoping to bring in this window. We waited for the right profile through the course of the summer and we’re satisfied that we’ve found the profile who can spearhead our attacking efforts next season.

“We have high hopes for him and I’m confident he will endear himself to the fans with his performances.”

(FC Goa Media)

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