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JSW launched its new football club JSW Bengaluru FC at the Bangalore football stadium today. The club is all set to make its début in the upcoming season of the I-league.
JFC Bengaluru has appointed former Manchester United youth player Ashley Westwood as the coach. They have also signed Indian national team captain Sunil Chhetri and Indian international striker Robin Singh.
Sunil Chhetri, who signed a two year contract with the club,said: “I would have loved to be a part of IMG-Reliance but it’s just that they, the clubs and the federation haven’t come to a conclusion. And for me to wait wouldn’t have been sensible because all the clubs have started their pre-season.
“It was very sweet of JSW to wait for a long time probably because of me. But it was high time as I couldn’t make the clubs wait more. The whole country has started their pre-season right now and JSW also have to start.”
The other local signings include – Kutty Mani, Don Bosco Andrew and Vishal Kumar, all from Bangalore. John Johnson, a former Middlesborough defender and Reading academy graduate, Curtis Osano are the foreign players who have agreed to play for the club.
JSW chairman and managing director Sajjan Jindal said: “We have the best coach and the best players. We need your support. My best wishes to everyone to take this club to the top”
Parth Jindal, CEO of Bengaluru FC said, “Launching Bengaluru FC today is the start of something special. It is going to be the endeavour of this club to have the best talent in the country on board and our team, which we have unveiled today, is proof of that. The club is going to give the city many reasons to cheer and we can’t wait for the season to begin.”
Ashley Westwood, coach of the club said, “These are exciting times for Bengaluru FC together with JSW. I feel privileged to be a manager here and the players should be privileged as well to represent Bengaluru as a city and a JSW. We will, without doubt, be the most organised outfit in the I-League and we look forward to many successful years with the club.
The squad till now: Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh, John Johnson, Malemnganba Metei, Karan Sawhney, Gurtej Singh, Keegan Pereira, Darren Caldeira, Rino Anto, Bruno Colaco, Pawan Kumar, Don Bosco Andrew, Ricardo Cardozo, Lazorama Fanai, Vishal Kumar, Kutty Mani and Thoi Singh
