Indian Super League: Manipuri duo Milan Singh and Soram Poirei join Delhi Dynamos FC

Soram Poirei and Milan Singh

Delhi Dynamos have made a couple of strategic signings that will not only fortify their defence but will also reach out to the sizeable North Eastern football fans living in the Capital. They have brought on board two highly promising and young Manipuri players that will work as a double winner for the forthcoming Hero Indian Super League.

Soram Poirei is an exciting goalkeeper making his ISL debut while Milan Singh is a dynamic central midfielder who might well become the fulcrum of new coach Gianluca Zambrotta’s plans.

Milan has come on loan from DSK Shivajians although he has added to his reputation by turning out for North East United in ISL’s opening season. Porei has been the stubborn custodian for newly promoted Aizwal FC. It will be his first foray into the country’s premier soccer league.

“I am very pleased to have Soram and Milan on my team. These two players are really talented and i look forward to working with them. Their names were discussed over the last couple of days among all of us, including club president Prashant Agarwal and the backroom staff. We believe that they fit perfectly in our plan for the upcoming season,” Zambrotta said.

Milan started his senior career in 2010 with the Pailan Arrows where he played for three years before moving to Shillong Lajong for another three-year stint. He was then signed up by NEUFC first, and then by DSK Shivajians. He has scored 10 goals in his professional career and has also turned up for the India Under-23 side for six times.

“I have played only one season in the league and have a very strong desire to prove myself in the ISL. I am very excited to have joined DDFC and feel that I belong to this city. I might be from Manipur but my heart beats for Delhi as a number of people from the North-East live here and I believe they will come out in full support for me and my team,” said an elated Singh who just turned 24 this May.  

Milan will be joined by his childhood friend Soram who made his professional debut with Pune FC. He played with them for two years before joining Shillong Lajong FC. He then had a one-year run with Pailan Arrows. He went on to join Bengaluru FC on loan for two years before donning Aizawl FC colours during the recently-concluded season of the I-League. 

“It is my first year in the ISL and I am really looking forward to it. It is a very big opportunity for me to play for such a great club. It is a platform for me to learn and shine under the new coach Zambrotta. He is a legend and under his tutelage I believe I will learn a number of new things,” 23-year old Porei said. 

Incidentally, Milan and Porei who have been the best of friends since childhood having played together in the past as well, including Shillong Lajong and Pailan Arrows. They are delighted to revive their partnership and thanked DDFC for it.

Delhi Dynamos FC President Mr. Prashant Agarwal was pleased with the signings and said, “We welcome the players to this club. We at DDFC are really happy to have signed these talented young players. We have been following them for some time now and it was not a very hard for us to decide when it came to signing them. We want to build a strong team with young, promising footballers who will form the future of DDFC. We wish them all the best and hope that they will play a huge role in the upcoming season,”