Pune:
I-League side Bharat FC completed their quota of foreign players by signing Palestine international Omar Jarun on a 18-month deal.
The 31-year-old Jarun joins Bharat FC from Canadian side Ottawa Fury which plays in the North American Soccer League.
Jarun also fulfills the Asian player criteria as per All India Football Federation’s regulations with regard to foreign players in the I-League.
Bharat FC are currently placed eighth in the 11-team Hero I-League. The Lions are preparing to face Royal Wahingdoh FC in Shillong on March 21 before travelling to Goa to face Dempo SC on March 27.
Jarun, born to an American mother and father of Palestinian descent in Kuwait, has been in United States of America since he was seven. Having started his professional career with American side Fort Wayne Fever in the 2004-2005 season, the strapping centre-back moved to Chicago Fire Premier, Atlanta Silverbacks and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
He left the Whitecaps at the end of the 2008-2009 season and moved to Poland, playing for Flota Swinoujscie appearing 18 times for the Polish side. The following season, he moved to Pogon Szczecin, spending two seasons with the club.
Jarun has also played for Arka Gdynia in Poland and has also spent a season with Sporting Charleroi in Belgium’s First Division.
Standing at an imposing height of six feet five inches, Jarun accepted Palestine’s invitation to play for its national side in 2007. He has made 11 international appearances. He was also part of the successful Palestine side that won the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup in Maldives.
Bharat FC head coach Stuart Watkiss said Jarun’s height and defensive acumen would serve the team well as it headed into three very crucial months.
“We are playing a lot of games in the next three months and it is important that we have the right players to get the positive results. Omar is someone who I have followed for quite some time. He is strong, has a very calm head and knows exactly what his job is. His height is a factor and allows us to possess a credible threat while going forward,” he said.
