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Afghanistan international striker Sandjar Ahmadi has completed his move to Mumbai FC, the player confirmed to Sportskeeda on Friday.
The 21-year-old had been on the Mumbai club’s radar since the 2013 SAFF Championship with coach Khalid Jamil also making a trip to Kathmandu to watch Ahmadi in action in the final against India where he scored the second goal in his country’s historic 2-0 triumph.
The move had been delayed due to Sandjar’s visa issues but he could now be available for Mumbai FC’s next I-League game against Dempo on Sunday.
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Speaking about his move to the I-League, Sandjar told Sportskeeda, “I have only heard good things about Indian football and will do my best for the team and help them get better.”
Sandjar, who was previously playing in the lower tiers of German football, explained the reason for joining an I-League club.
“Although I was playing in Germany, it wasn’t in the top tier. So that’s why I decided to move to the I-League as I would get a chance to play in the main league and have a professional contract,” said Sandjar, who signed a one-year contract and will be wearing the number 9 jersey for his new club.
Sandjar’s arrival means Mumbai FC now have two Afghan internationals as SAFF 2013 winning captain Zohib Islam Amiri was already in their ranks and the striker explained that his teammate’s presence was also a big factor in his transfer to India.
“Of course, it helps to have Amiri because he told me everything about Mumbai FC and the I-League. It was also good to see the coach come to Nepal to watch me,” said the player who scored both in the semi-final and final of SAFF 2013.
Afghanistan are not only the new South Asian champions but also the highest ranked team in the sub-continent and Sandjar expects more Afghan national team players to play in the I-League.
“This is a good chance for me to start my professional career. I hope we have more good national team players in the I-League,” he concluded.
