Indian football’s teen sensation Brandon Fernandes trained at Sunderland during Di Canio’s tenure

South African club ASD Cape Town have confirmed that their Indian scholar Brandon Fernandes spent two weeks at Sunderland earlier this year during Paolo Di Canio’s tenure.

Sportskeeda learnt that Brandon and fellow ASD scholar David Gateri, who is also a Kenyan international, trained with the Sunderland reserves side and were even asked to come back for a similar experience later in the year. But with Di Canio getting replaced by Gus Poyet those plans didn’t materlise.

ASD informed that Bradon and Gateri were scouted by Sunderland when they were playing for ASD’s SAFA 2 side in Cape Town much before Di Canio joined. The first day of their training-cum-trial stint coincided with Di Canio’s appointment and the duo impressed the Sunderland coaching staff.

Brandon has been on scholarship with ASD since 2011 and became an overnight celebrity when he was offered a trial by Reading. He also had trials at Leicester City and ASD stated that the 19-year-old midfielder remains on the radar of several European club scouts.

The India youth international and Salgaocar youth product will be representing the country in the 2014 Lusophony Games, which will take place in Goa.