Reports: Pritam Kotal and Debjit Majumdar set to sign contract extensions with Mohun Bagan

Debjit Majumdar Mohun Bagan
Debjit Majumdar has made the Mohun Bagan goalkeeping position his own

Indian internationals Pritam Kotal and Debjit Majumdar along with Shouvik Ghosh have agreed to contract extensions with Federation Cup champions Mohun Bagan according to sources close to the club. The trio is expected to sign on the dotted line later this week to one-year extensions.

Mohun Bagan appeased their fans when the won the Federation Cup for a record 14th time earlier this year. However, both the club and its fanbase remain despondent about how they imploded at the backend of the I-League last season after racing away to the lead in the early parts.

Thus, the news of the signings will come as a timely boost for the Kolkata giants who are looking to build the team for next season for another charge at the title.

Debjit Majumdar has really come of age in the last couple of years. Ever since he came into the fray with his brilliant performance in a Kolkata derby in March 2015, Majumdar hasn’t looked back. His brilliant performances for the Mariners between the posts helped him secure his place as Sanjoy Sen’s number one ahead of club captain Shilton Paul.

The 28-year-old’s heroics, in fact, has also seen him securing a loan deal with Mumbai City FC for the Indian Super League last season, whilst also garnering him his first international call-up earlier this year.

Pritam Kotal’s signing meanwhile will be a huge boost for the Mariners in the midst of a number of reports earlier suggesting that the 22-year-old might be on his way out with arch-rivals East Bengal favourites for his signature. There were even suggestion that there was a rift between Sanjoy Sen and the young right back with the Mohun Bagan coach opting to drop Kotal on a number of occasions last season. However, the news of a contract extension should put all those rumours to bed.

Kotal who initially signed for Mohun Bagan in 2013 from the Pailan Arrows soon became a vital cog in Sanjoy Sen’s team which rode its way to their first ever I-League title, and fourth national championship in the 2014/15 season. Kotal was impressive in his duties at the right back spot that season where he was not only astute defensively, but also for his marauding runs forward and pinpoint crosses.

Also read: Reports: Bengaluru FC not to release players for ISL season till AFC Cup completion

The right-back has made the position his own in recent seasons, earning praise from all and sundry for his energetic performances. His efforts for the Kolkata giants soon bore fruit when he was called into the Indian national team fold last year. The youngster made his debut in a World Cup qualifier against Nepal and has since then represented the country on 12 occasions.

Shouvik Ghosh on the other hands has had to endure a lean spell last season at the club. After, breaking through on the opposite flank along with Kotal in 2013, the left-back hasn’t quite been able to reach the heights of his compatriot, having had to play second fiddle to Dhanachandra Singh. Ghosh in fact, made only four appearances for Mohun Bagan last season; all of them coming in AFC Champions League and AFC Cup games.

This will be second new contract the 23-year-old left-back will sign this year after agreeing to a contract with NorthEast United for the upcoming Indian Super League. However, his addition is a sure sign that Mohun Bagan are looking at building a quality squad instead of just focussing on the star players.

The trio is expected to don the Mohun Bagan colours only after the completion of the Indian Super League. The Mohun Bagan faithful will be happy to see three crucial players signed up for next season and will be hoping to see their star player Sony Norde also commit to the club in the near future.

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Edited by Staff Editor