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27Goa: FC Goa midfielder Phrangki Buam has joined Kolkata outfit Mohammedan Sporting on loan for the 2021-22 season.

The youngster, who arrived on Goan shores last season after sealing a permanent move from Shillong Lajong, is set to link up with the Black Panthers for their campaigns in the upcoming season.

Buam will be aiming to help Andrey Chernyshov’s side chase glory in the Durand Cup and the Calcutta Football League before striding on to the upcoming I-League season.

The boy from Meghalaya will look to get back to his best in the I-League, a tournament where he first shot to prominence during the 2018/19 campaign – where he finished as the second-highest Indian goalscorer thanks to his 6 strikes in 20 matches.

The 20-year-old made only one appearance for the Gaurs last season, coming on as a substitute for FC Goa in their last AFC Champions League game against Al Wahda.

Speaking on the move, FC Goa Head Coach Juan Ferrando stated, “Phrangki is a very professional boy. It has been a pleasure for me and the coaching staff to work with him. He is supremely talented and with the move, I hope he gets to play a lot of minutes and come back to FC Goa soon with a wealth of experience under his belt because for him, I believe the best is yet to come. All the best Phrangki.”

(FC Goa Media)

Mumbai: Mumbai City FC announced the signing of Brazilian midfielder Cássio Gabriel on a season-long loan from Campeonato Brasileirao Serie B club Vila Nova.

Fondly known as ‘Cássinho’, the 29-year old started his youth career at Fluminense’s under 20s side and went on to play for a number of Brazilian clubs such as Paysandu SC, Bento Goncalves, Guarani, Anapolis, ASEEV-GO, Penapolense, Piracicaba, Sao Bento, Botafogo and Mirassol before joining Vila Nova in June 2020. Cássio, who can play on either wings or through the middle as an attacking mid, made 12 appearances for Vila Nova and has one assist to his name.

During his stint with Fluminense’s youth side, the Patrocinio-born midfielder was also loaned to the Croatian club Hajduk Split in 2013, the only club Cássio played for outside of his native Brazil.

Cássio Gabriel said: Mumbai City have a great profile back home in Brazil. There are a number of Brazilians who have played at Mumbai City and I’ve only heard positive things about the Club. Mumbai City are the defending champions and their ambition is what convinced me that this is where I want to be. The Club wants to win titles, they want to be the best, not only in India but at a continental level, and I am really excited to be part of a Club of this mentality.

The ISL is one of the fastest-growing leagues in the world, and the quality of football being played here is really great. I know we have a massive season ahead of us, defending the ISL title as well as the AFC Champions League campaign. It will be a new challenge for me, but I am fully prepared for it, and I cannot wait to start this exciting journey with my new family.

Head Coach, Sergio Lobera said: Cássio comes from an excellent football pedigree and brings a lot of valuable experience along with his skillset on the pitch. I believe he can be a vital member of the Mumbai City family and certainly contribute positively to the team’s performance. We are pleased to have a great talent like Cássio on our side.

(Mumbai City FC Media)

 

Goa: Kunal Kundaikar is a Gaur. FC Goa announced that the Club has reached an agreement with Sporting Clube de Goa to secure the services of the promising young defender.

Kundaikar today put pen to paper on a three-year deal after FC Goa agreed to an undisclosed transfer fee with the Flaming Orange, a season after helping his former side win the Goa Pro League title in his first season with the club.

The 22-year-old will be given the chance to impress upon Juan Ferrando and will be involved with the first team for the pre-season.

A fan of Sergio Ramos, the youngster was delighted at completing the move, one which he describes as a dream come true.

“I have been an FC Goa fan. I have been to the Fatorda (Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru) Stadium on many occasions. I have lived the moments, the games and now to be able to have a chance at striding out onto the pitch like so many of my idols is a dream come true,” said the defender after completing the formalities.

FC Goa Director of Football, Ravi Puskur also commented on the latest addition to the squad. He said, “Kunal is a player who we’ve had on our radar for a fair bit of time. He has a number of qualities that we value in a player. He’s a young Goan player with a great future and has been a part of teams that have won the Taca de Goa and the Goa Pro League in recent seasons. In addition to his defensive qualities, he is composed on the ball and has a good passing range. We’re delighted to have signed him and we look forward to him growing with us.”

The young defender started his career with FC Neura, where he signed in 2014 as a part of their U18 team. Playing primarily as a winger, he shined in his very first season – especially in the inter-village tournaments playing for Goa Velha Sports Club.

Goa Velha signed him the very next season, where he played the GFA First Division (2nd tier in Goan footballing pyramid) for the side. Panjim Footballers and a chance at playing in the Goa Pro League came calling in 2016.

The next two seasons saw him transform from a winger to a defender capable of playing across the backline. He grew into one of the most important players in the side whilst winning the Taca Goa (GFA’s U20 tournament).

He signed for Sporting Clube de Goa in 2018, but was sent back on loan to Panjim Footballer for the next two seasons. The 2018/19 season saw Kundaikar win the Reliance Cup in Goa, playing for Fr. Agnel College, Pillar before again delivering the Taca Goa title.

The following season saw him named the captain for Panjim Footballers before securing a move to the Sporting side for the 2020/21 season. In his first season with the club, the youngster helped the side to a Goa Pro League title whilst being named ‘Defender of the Season’ at the club.

(FC Goa Media)

 

 

Chennai: Two-time Indian Super League (ISL) champions Chennaiyin FC (CFC) have signed Mirlan Murzaev on a one-year deal. The forward becomes the first Kyrgyz player to feature in India’s premier football league.

The six-feet tall striker is the second international recruit for the Chennai-based franchise ahead of the 2021-22 season. The addition of Mirlan will bolster CFC’s frontline with Jobby Justin and Rahim Ali already part of the fray.

“I’m just very very happy to join Chennaiyin FC. I can’t wait for the training, and season to start. I look forward to representing all the fans from Tamil Nadu,” the 31-year-old said.

An experienced campaigner, Mirlan is currently the top goal-scorer for Kyrgyzstan and also the second most capped player with 48 international appearances. Mirlan had struck a hattrick last month against Myanmar during Kyrgyzstan’s 8-1 victory in the qualifying match for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“As a leading scorer of his national team [Kyrgyzstan] and with 100-plus career goals, the signing of Mirlan gives us a significant attacking boost and solidity in the front. We are pleased to welcome the first-ever player from Kyrgyzstan to Chennaiyin FC and the ISL,” CFC co-owner Vita Dani said.

In 2009, Mirlan had visited India during the Nehru Cup in New Delhi and also scored a goal against the hosts. His second goal against India came in Kyrgyzstan’s 2-1 win in Bishkek in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualification match.

With more than a decade-long experience, Mirlan will be eager to make his mark during his maiden ISL outing and contribute to CFC’s chase for their third league title.

“My thoughts on signing Mirlan are very simple. Two words in fact. Quality. Personality,” CFC’s head coach Bozidar Bandovic said.

Mirlan began his professional career with one of Kyrgyzstan’s top clubs — FK Dordoi Bishkek — during 2007-08 and went onto play for clubs like Lokomotiv Moscow II, Denizlispor and FK Kara-Balta. On his return to Dordoi in 2019-20, Mirlan emerged as top scorer with 10 goals from 13 games and guided the club to the league title. Mirlan has so far featured in 43 matches for Dordoi which includes 21 goals and 10 assists.

(Chennaiyin FC Media)

Mumbai: Mumbai City FC have announced the arrival of striker Igor Angulo. The 37-year-old Spaniard joins the reigning ISL League Winners’ and Champions after putting pen to paper on a one-year contract with the Islanders.

The experienced striker was one of the vital cogs for fellow ISL club FC Goa, making it to the playoffs in the 2020-21 ISL season. He scored as many as 14 goals in 21 games to bag the Golden Boot award in his debut ISL campaign.

Before coming to India, Angulo plied his trade for four seasons in the Polish Ekstraklasa, Poland’s top-flight football league with Gornik Zabrze, where he tasted a lot of success. He emerged among the top two goal scorers in three consecutive seasons and had also won the Golden Boot in the 2018-19 season having scored 24 goals. During his time in Poland, Igor played 154 matches and scored 88 goals.

The Spanish striker, who started his career with Athletic Bilbao in Spain, has experience of playing in several other countries like France, Cyprus and Greece.

Igor Angulo said: “It’s an honour to join the champions Mumbai City and to be a part of a club that has grand ambitions and wants to fight for titles. I have spent one season in India so far and my experience of the ISL has been incredible. But my focus remains on what I set out to do everywhere I’ve played – I want to win the league.

The club’s mentality and the coach Sergio Lobera’s philosophy fits right with the way I want to play football too and I am delighted to be here. We have a massive season ahead of us. It will be an honour to defend both our trophies and represent India in the AFC Champions League and I’m ready for the challenge. I cannot wait to get started with my new family and represent our fans and the city of Mumbai in the best way we can.”

Head Coach, Sergio Lobera said: “Igor is a veteran campaigner and a class act on and off the field. We’ve seen his goalscoring prowess in the previous seasons and how dangerous he can be for the opposition. He is someone who will bring a lot of valuable experience along with his skill and we are confident he can help us and bring the best out of the players playing alongside him. His understanding of the game and his guile on a football pitch will be an asset for us in this historic season that lies ahead of us. I am really pleased to have Igor with us at Mumbai City.

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC have bolstered their attacking line up with the signing of Bidyashagar Singh on a three-year contract, the club announced on Wednesday. The 23-year-old Manipuri becomes the eighth signing of the summer, and joins the Blues ahead of the upcoming AFC Cup playoff stage clash against Eagles FC.

Bidyashagar, who came through the Tiddim Road Athletic Union FC youth system, joined East Bengal in 2016. He first came into prominence when he took the Kolkata side’s U18 team to the finals of the 2016-17 U18 I-League, scoring six goals, including in both semifinals and final. He was promoted to the senior team and made his mark in the 2019 Durand Cup, even scoring twice in a 2-1 win over the Blues in the group stage.

“Signing for Bengaluru FC is like a dream come true for me. Now that I am here, I want to achieve more for the club and for myself. I am eager to improve and to contribute to helping this team to continue the winning legacy that it has established. I know that I am surrounded by so many great players like Sunil bhai and Gurpreet bhai, and I want to learn from them and develop further,” said Bidyashagar, after putting pen to paper on his deal.

After making just 11 appearances in the I-League across two seasons, he returned to TRAU last year and his 12 goals, including two hat-tricks, took his boyhood side’s I-League title challenge to the final match day, with the team eventually finishing third in the standings.

“The opportunity to play for Bengaluru FC has arrived at the right time for me. Being in good form is very important for a striker and I would like to continue my good run here. My aim is to win trophies and to wear this club’s jersey with pride. I also want to do well here so that I can make it into our national team,” added Bidyashagar.

Comfortable playing on either flank, Bidyashagar became only the second Indian to pick up the I-League Golden Boot last season and in doing so, became only the fourth Indian to finish top scorer of a National League after Bhaichung Bhutia, Raman Vijayan and Blues’ skipper Sunil Chhetri. He was also named the ‘Hero of the Season’ and found a place in the I-League ‘Team of the Season.’

“Bidyashagar is a young player with a lot of potential. He is very eager to learn and make the next step and in the short time that he has been with us, he has shown us that he has the ability to score goals. The important thing now is to make sure he can bring his quality into our team and do that in the Indian Super League. He can play as a striker, as a winger and in behind the striker, which gives us a lot of options in attack,” said Blues’ Head Coach Marco Pezzaiuoli.

The Blues take on Club Eagles FC in their AFC Cup playoff clash, on August 15, in Maldives.

(Bengaluru FC Media)

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC, on Thursday, announced the signing of versatile Indian midfielder Jayesh Rane on a three-year deal that runs through till the end of the 2023-24 season. The 28-year-old is the club’s sixth signing of the summer, and joins the side ahead of their AFC Cup Playoff Clash against Eagles FC.

Rane, a product of the Mumbai FC academy, has 85 caps in the Indian Super League and will strengthen the Blues’ options in attack. He joins following a four-season stint with ATK and ATK Mohun Bagan, and has previously been a part of the Chennaiyin FC side that clinched the 2015-16  Indian Super League title.

“I’m really happy to join Bengaluru FC, a club that has known success for several years and one that represents a high level of professionalism on and off the pitch. At this stage of my career, I felt ready for a fresh challenge and Bengaluru FC gave me that opportunity. I have come up against this team throughout my career, and now I am looking forward to representing the club and to play my part in all its future success,” said Rane, who has joined the side at their training base in Bellary.

Rane, a midfielder who can also operate down the flanks, won the Indian Super League a second time with ATK, and was also part of the Aizawl FC squad that clinched the I-League trophy in 2017. He has also represented India at the U23 level, playing in the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers.

“Jayesh is a player who can play in different positions and his versatility gives the team a lot of options in attack. He is creative and skillful, has an eye for goal and also brings with him the experience of having been part of three League title-winning teams. Off the pitch, he is a positive person and has fit right in with the rest of the squad already. I welcome him to Bengaluru FC and look forward to working with him,” said Blues’ Head Coach Marco Pezzaiuoli.

The Blues are set to face Club Eagles FC in their AFC Cup Playoff Clash, in Maldives, on August 15th.

(Bengaluru FC Media)