Kerala Blasters unveil former Sheffield United left-back
Marcus Williams, former Sheffield United and Scunthorpe United left-back has been announced as Kerala Blasters’ new signing right after unveiling the team’s marquee player Carlos Marchena. The great news for the Blasters fans was presented on the grand occasion of Onam festival.
Ahead of the second edition of Indian Super League, Peter Taylor has bolstered the team’s defence by signing the 29-year-old Williams who will now play alongside Marchena, Peter Ramage and winner of last season’s emerging player of the year award, Sandesh Jhingan. The Doncaster boy came up the ranks of Scunthorpe United before moving to England's Championship teams like Reading and Sheffield United where he has a total of 78 appearances plus 16 in the FA Cup.
British coach Peter Taylor has added steel to his defence and there is no doubt Marcus Williams will add experience at the back for the Blasters this season. The English defender learned most of his trade in the English One league, making a total of 172 appearances. The addition of Marcus Williams to the squad makes him the eight foreign players to have signed for the runners-up of last season’s Indian Super League.
Kerala Blasters have now signed Carlos Marchena, Peter Ramage, Josue Prieto, Victor Herrero, Antonio German, Joao Coimbra, Sanchez Watt, Chris Dagnall and Marcus Williams as their foreign players and Peter Taylor will be looking to push the team for winners trophy this season.
On the day of his unveiling for the club, Marcus Williams sent a special tweet to the Kerala Blasters fans.
Cavin Lobo switch sides from Atletico de Kolkata
Former Atletico de Kolkata midfielder Cavin Lobo has made a switch from the reigning ISL champions to join Kerala Blasters. He is the first Indian to score a brace in the ISL but failed to make regular appearances for the champions. The 27-year-old Goan, started his career in East Bengal and went to become a crowd favourite.
Cavin Lobo played an integral role in Atletico de Kolkata’s winning campaign but the champions failed to retain him ahead of the new season. The Indian playmaker look forward to the new challenge.
"No not really [feeling bad to not be with ATK]. I know the situation. I spoke to the management of the club. It's just that I wasn't getting a chance to play and that I was not comfortable. I did not get the chance to prove myself," according to IB Times.
Kerala Blaster open their campaign against John Abraham’s Northeast United on 6 October in a home game.