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In its recent bid to strengthen the squad, Dempo Sports Club has announced the signing of India U19 striker Uttam Rai. Uttam, one of the top prospects in India football, is currently with the AIFF U-19 Elite Academy in Goa and will be joining the club in the coming days.
Rai has recently returned from an impressive stint with English Championship side Reading Football Club, where in he scored 4 goals for Reading FC’s development team during a series of friendly matches. Prior to his time in England, Uttam spent 6 months with the Colorado Rush Academy in the USA and also trained with MLS side, Chicago Fire.
A product of the Namchi Football Academy in Sikkim, Uttam trained at the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Florida between 2010 and 2012.
“I am very happy that I have signed my first professional contract with one of the most successful clubs in India. Playing for Dempo SC is a dream come true and I’m looking forward to developing my game under the guidance of Mr. Arthur Papas. I’m ready to contribute to the club in any way that I can,” said an ecstatic Uttam after signing his first professional contract.
Dempo SC Head Coach Arthur Papas also welcomed the young talent into his pool of players. “We are excited that Uttam is joining our club. He is one of the most promising young players in India at the moment and we feel still has much development to occur. We are working towards building a squad in which one of the objectives is to have cream of the top talents within India as part of the first team squad, and Uttam fits into that category perfectly,” Papas said.
