ISL 2018: Lalthuammawia Ralte rejects Delhi Dynamos offer to join FC Goa
Indian Super League (ISL) side FC Goa has roped in former Bengaluru FC shot-stopper Lalthuanmmawia Ralte on a free transfer with a two-year contract. Ralte will join the Gaurs after the Super Cup for his new sojourn in the next Indian Super League season.
Incidentally, the forer Bengaluru custodian had other offers as well. the recently-concluded ISL season's runners-up were said to be interested in retaining their second choice goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, Delhi Dynamos, who have struggled at the back this season, had also tabled an offer for Ralte, Sportskeeda has learnt. However, the 25-year-old decided to head to the west coast next season.
The Mizoram based boy from Champai has been with Bengaluru FC since inception playing a pivotal role in Bengaluru's two I-League and Federation Cup titles. In his debut season with Bengaluru, he made 20 appearances.
On 4 February 2015, Mawia made his AFC Champions League debut against Johor Darul Ta'zim at Larkin Stadium Malaysia. He signed a two-year contract with Bengaluru FC after the 2013-14 season.
He then got comparatively minimum playing time due to the signature of Amrinder Singh for the Blues. Ralte was chosen to guard the goal in the historic AFC Cup 2015 Final in Doha, Qatar against Air Force Club, Iraq due to the suspension of Amrinder Singh. Ralte did brilliantly but the Blues went on to lose 0-1.
After Bengaluru FC's introduction to the Indian Super League, Ralte was made to give way for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. He played his first ISL Game for the Blues due to the suspension of Sandhu against NorthEast United with a clean sheet to his name. He also played against Pune City and conceded one goal in a 3-1 win.
FC Goa suffered heavily due to poor performances at the goal by Laxmikant Kattimani and Naveen Kumar. The Goan Management showed no delay when the window opened and lured Ralte on Tuesday in Goa.
Ralte's presence at goal would provide much-needed versatility to FC Goa which had been missing the whole season.