Mumbai:
Bharat FC made their first domestic signings for the 2014-15 I-League football season by signing up Kerala-born goalkeeper Shahinlal Meloly and former India striker Manjeet Singh on a season-long deals.
Punjab-born Manjeet joined Bharat FC, which is set to take part in its inaugural I-League season which kicks off on January 17, from Churchill Brothers SC while Shahinlal Meloly was a free-agent, a club release said.
He has played for JCT, Mohun Bagan and Mahindra United, Salgaocar, Air India and Mumbai Tigers before moving to Churchill Brothers.
The 28-year-old has made 12 appearances for the senior national side and was part of the Indian team that won the Nehru Cup in 2007.
Goalkeeper Shahinlal hails from Calicut in Kerala. Having taken up football at the age of 12, Shahinlal was a quick learner, progressing to play for his district and for his state within a couple of years.
The 24-year-old then joined now-defunct side Viva Kerala for the 2008-2009 season. He moved to Bharat FC’s cross-town rivals, Pune FC, in 2011, playing regularly from 2011 to 2013.
Bharat FC’s head coach Stuart Watkiss said that he was impressed by Manjeet’s tactical awareness and strength during Bharat FC’s invitational trials.
“Manjeet’s got a great head on his shoulders. He is calm, thinks every pass through and has a great eye for goal. His movement and tenacity was what impressed me the most,” said Watkiss.
“Shahinlal is a good young keeper. He commands his area well and is quite confident of his abilities,” he added.
