Bengaluru FC retain five players

Rino Anto; Photo Credit: Bengaluru FC

Bangalore: Bengaluru FC, on Tuesday, announced that they would be retaining five players from their championship-winning team by handing them new one-year deals. The club has also converted two loan signings from last season into year-long moves for the coming season.

Influential winger Beikhokhei Beingaichho and right-back Rino Anto, who has had an impressive season himself, have both penned new deals as have midfielder Darren Caldeira, CK Vineeth and central defender NS Manju. Youngsters Soram Poirei (goalkeeper) and Shankar S (defender) who were on loan at the club last season, have been signed on one-year deals too.

“I am thrilled to have extended my stay at Bengaluru FC. Last season was special for the club and me personally. I have gained so much as a player and in extending my stay at the club, I will only improve this season,” said Anto, who coach Ashley Westwood has often touted as the best right-back in the country.

Beingaichho was a revelation last season providing close to a dozen assists playing on the wing. He even scored a dramatic last-minute winner against Sporting Clube de Goa to ensure that Bengaluru FC finish the season with a win.

Westwood said the retaining of the players was important for the club’s coming season. “We are very pleased to have secured the signatures of the players who have all played their part in us being successful last season. It was important for the club to retain the core strength of the team in a bid to remain consistent. In my opinion, we need a few small additions to the squad to improve us but the general feeling in the club has always been to work together as a team, set standards and improve,” said Westwood.