I-League: Champions Bengaluru FC make three new signings
Bangalore: Bengaluru FC, on Tuesday, announced three new additions to the squad for the coming season. After bringing aboard former England under-20 skipper Joshua Walker last week, Ashley Westwood’s championship-winning team have signed midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh, left-back Lalchhuanmawia and eighteen-year-old striker Udanta Kumam – all on one year-long deals.
Lyngdoh (27) played a pivotal role in Shillong club Rangdajied United’s late surge to beat the drop last season while Lalchhuanmawia (25), who started his professional career with JCT, spent three seasons with Shillong Lajong before signing for Bengaluru.
“It’s a great feeling to be part of a champion team. I was up against Bengaluru FC last season and the football they played was very attractive. There is the challenge of defending the title this season though, and I am happy to be part of it,” said Lalchhuanmawia who comes from Mizoram.
Lyngdoh, who like Lalchhuanmawia, was at Lajong before the switch to Rangdajied where he captained the team, said he was ecstatic at signing with Bengaluru. “I played here last season and the atmosphere was special. I’ve also heard from many quarters about how BFC are going about doing things to change the way club football functions in the country and I wanted to be part of it.”
The signing of talented Kumam reiterates the club’s stand in providing youngsters with a pedestal. The lad from Manipur has graduated from the Tata Football Academy where he spent four years. He finished as top scorer with 9 goals in TFA’s I-League under-19 title triumph last season.
“Eugeneson had an impressive season at Rangdajied and he had good games when up against us. As for Lalchhuanmawia, he is an attacking left-back and will seamlessly blend into the BFC style of play while Udanta brings with him raw talent and pace. We genuinely feel that the three players could soon make the leap to the big stage,” said assistant coach, Pradhyum Reddy.