'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Churchill Brothers have completed the signing of Syrian central defender Naser Al Sebai, Sportskeeda can confirm.
The 28-year-old had been training with the I-League champions since last week and now with his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) having arrived, Al Sebai is eligible for Thursday’s I-League encounter against Sporting Clube.
Al Sebai finished runners-up with Syrian club Al Karamah in the 2006 Asian Champions League final where they lost to South Korean club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3-2 on aggregate. The centre back was part of the Karamah squad in both legs of the final and came on as a substitute in the second half of the first leg.
The defender is also a former AFC Cup runner-up as Karamah were beaten in the 2009 final by Kuwait SC with Al Sebai being an unused substitute.
He spent six seasons at Karamah before having a one-year stint at Lebanese club Tripoli SC and last played for Indonesian Super League outfit Persib Bandung. The former Syrian under-23 international is looking forward to his stint in India and explained that the possibility of playing in the AFC Cup was an important factor in joining the Goan club.
“I am pleased to join this club because they really wanted me with the club president personally doing everything to take care of my visa. Additionally the club will also be playing in the AFC Cup so it is going to be interesting,” he was quoted saying.
Al Sebai will be a direct replacement for Nigerian defender Hameed Adisope and Churchill Brothers have also released the other three foreigners that were registered at the start of the season – Henri Antchouet, Ahmed Al Kadoour and Hugo Machado
The Red Machines had earlier signed two other foreigners with Syrian striker Yasser Shahen having already made his debut in the goalless draw with Mohammedan Sporting last weekend while efforts are on to get the ITC of Egyptian midfielder Abdel Hamid Shabana before the Sporting Clube clash.
Churchill Brothers would be hoping that the changing of the foreigners will revive their I-League campaign as they are currently winless and second from bottom in the table with just four points from nine matches.
