Kolkata, Nov 30 (IANS) Kolkata football giants East Bengal's potential new recruit, Ugandan defender Ivan Bukenya, is set to arrive in the city for a medical checkup on Thursday morning.
"He is coming by Emirates flight tomorrow morning," a source have told IANS on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old, who last played for South African side Kaizer Chiefs, can operate both as a defender or a midfielder, and known for his versatility.
"He will undergo medical tests and then sign on the dotted lines. He will hopefully play a key role in our aim of winning the I-League," the source added.
The Uganda international was part of the Iraqi side Arbil SC who made it to the final of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup in 2012.
The team made it to the knock-out stages of the next edition also besides winning the Iraqi Premier League. In 2013, he made a move to South Africa and has been playing there ever since.
East Bengal have already released their British defender Calum Angus. Bukenya is the second foreigner roped in by the club in the recent past with the first being Haitian striker Wedson Anselme.
The Calcutta Football League (CFL) winners recently offloaded their South Korean attacker Do Dong Hyun after a prolonged process of negotiation as he wasn't part of coach Trevor James Morgan's plans.
All I-League are stipulated to sign four foreigners, among which one has to be of Asian origin.
East Bengal are yet to fill up their allotted quota, and according to sources hey are looking to fill up the vacant Asian quota and the remaining foreigner slot.
Striker Richard Gadze, who is playing for Delhi Dynamos in the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL), and was sought by East Bengal is learnt to be too expensive.
Mohun Bagan's Haitian star forward Sony Norde is also too high for the club, according to the source.
The club has also spoken to Australian striker Andrew Barisic, who has played for the club in 2013, but his arrival is believed to be still some time away.
--IANS
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