ISL 2017/18: Brazilian midfielder Memo signs contract extension with Jamshedpur FC
What's the story?
Jamshedpur FC's Brazilian midfielder Emerson Gomes de Moura, better known as Memo has extended his stay at the club after the end of their ISL season.
In case you didn't know...
Jamshedpur FC have had a good debut season in the ISL, giving a solid challenge for a top-four finish. However, they did not manage to qualify for the semifinals in the end, as they suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat at the hands of FC Goa in their last league stage match.
The Heart of the matter
Memo has been a key fixture in the middle of the park for Jamshedpur FC. In fact, the 30-year-old has featured in all of Jamshedpur's league stage matches. Now, the Tata group-owned club has confirmed that they have extended the midfielder's contract by another year.
This development comes on the back of a number of other contract extensions across the Indian Super League, with league leaders Bengaluru FC also recently confirming the extensions of keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (by five years) and Erik Paartalu (by two years).
What's next?
With their ISL season coming to an end, Jamshedpur FC will now be looking for success in the inaugural edition of the Super Cup, a competition in which they have got direct entry, owing to their fifth-placed finish in the ISL.
They are set to face I-League champions Minerva Punjab on April 2. However, the Round of 16 clash itself is in jeopardy, as the Chandigarh-based side has threatened to pull out of the competition, citing payments due from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as the main reason.
Author's take
Being a key member of manager Steve Coppell's starting XI Memo's contract extension is sure to send ripples among the Jamshedpur FC fans. To add to that, their signing of exciting young Indian midfielder Michael Soosairaj, makes their midfield prospect for the next season all the more exciting.