Pune FC squad announced for 2013/14 season

I-League runners-up Pune FC have announced their 26-player squad for the upcoming 2013/14 I-League season with the club sporting an exciting mix of youth and experience as they gear-up for their fifth consecutive season of top-flight football in India.

Having finished runners-up in the previous edition of I-League, incidentally their best ever, Pune FC aims to start afresh under new Dutch Coach Mike Snoei and a youthful squad. With the focus on youth this season, Pune FC has promoted four more youngsters from the Peninsula Pune FC Academy (PPFCA), while adding six new players, including three foreigners to the main squad.

Fifteen players have been retained by Pune FC, while midfielder Dhanapal Ganesh returns back after a season-long loan at Pailan Arrows to make up a 26-man squad.

On the other hand, Pune FC released 11 players some of whom had served out their respective contracts, while some owing to management decision.

PUNE FC

Goalkeepers
1-Amrinder Singh, 22-Arup Debnath (Mumbai Tigers FC), 27-Shahinlal Meloly

Defenders
2-Othallo Tabia, 3-Caitano Costa, 4-Calum James Angus (GAIS, SWEDEN), 5-Gurjinder Kumar Singh, 13-Zomingliana Ralte, 14-Yendrembam Denechandra Meitei (Pune FC Under-20), 15-Anes Edathodika, 24-Salam Ranjan Singh (Pune FC Under-20), 25-Ramu Srikanth, 29-Longjam Gobin Singh (Pune FC Under-20)

Midfielders
6-Shanmugam Venkatesh, 8-Izumi Arata, 11-Douhou Sey Djidja Pierre, 16-Velington Rocha, 17-Dhanapal Ganesan, 19-Nikhil Kadam, 21-Anthony D’Souza (Salgaocar FC), 23-Mumtaz Akhtar, 26-Fanai Lalrempuia (Pune FC Under-20)

Forwards
9-Raúl Iván Fabiani Bosio (Huracán CF, SPAIN), 10-James Meyer (Brisbane Roar FC, AUSTRALIA), 20-Prakash Thorat (Air India), 28-Thongkhosiem Haokip (Pune FC Under-20)

Officials
Mike Snoei (Head Coach), Gift Raikhan (Assistant Coach), Glen Johnson (goalkeeping coach)

Players released
Abhra Mondal, James Joseph Saeed Moga (both East Bengal Club), Chika Wali, Karma Tsewang (both Salgaocar FC), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Dempo SC), Boima Jerry Karpeh (Sporting Clube de Goa), Asim Hassan (ONGC), Singam Subash Singh (Shillong Lajong FC), David Lalbiakzara (Rangdajied United FC), Nallappan Mohanraj (Mumbai Tigers FC), Karthick Govindaswamy (Hindustan Eagles FC, Tamil Nadu); Sukhwinder Singh (IMG-Reliance); John Benedick, Maninder Singh, Thangjam Abung Meetie, Jeh Williamson, Kamardeep Singh, Sujie Kumar M., Daisuke Nishiguchi