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India international Balwant Singh has completed a loan move to the Chennai franchise of the Indian Super League from Mohun Bagan, Sportskeeda can reveal.
Many of the top Indian forwards like Bengaluru FC duo Sunil Chhetri and Robin Singh and Sporting Clube de Goa’s Victorino Fernandes are missing from the ISL as their clubs don’t want to be a part of the new league so Balwant’s inclusion ensures that the highest Indian scorer in all competitions last season will be seen in action in the inaugural edition of ISL.
When organisers IMG-Reliance were signing players for the domestic draft, Balwant was with Churchill Brothers and thus not made available for the ISL. By the time he signed for Mohun Bagan, the domestic pool was completed.
Each franchise can sign five players outside the domestic and international drafts so the 27-year-old becomes Chennai’s first such signing. Three of Balwant’s Mohun Bagan teammates – Shilton Paul, Dhanachandra Singh and Jeje Lalpekhlua – are already part of the Chennai franchise.
Balwant, who scored 17 goals in all competitions in the last campaign, is already in Bangalore, where the Chennai franchise are having their pre-season preparations, and is expected to join training on Thursday.
The former JCT striker has made a great start to his Mohun Bagan career, scoring seven goals already including a hattrick against Army XI in the Calcutta Football League last week but the Punjabi lad remains grounded for the ISL.
“I am delighted to have got a chance to play in the ISL. Lasts season’s performances with Churchill gives me a lot of confidence and I am also happy with my start at Mohun Bagan. But I have to work hard again to become a regular in the Chennai ISL team. It is going to be a new experience as I will get to learn a lot from quality foreign coaches and players. I am really looking forward to it,” the 2014 FPAI Indian Player of the Yeard told Sportskeeda on Wednesday evening after reaching Bangalore.
Balwant, who had made his India debut earlier this year against Bangladesh, is hopeful of getting included in the national squad for the Palestine friendlies next month and like ten other Mohun Bagan players will re-join the Mariners after the end of ISL in December ahead of the Federation Cup in Goa.
