Bengaluru, Oct 12 (PTI) Bengaluru FC announced a 28-member squad which will be part of the club's first everreserve side, known as Bengaluru FC 'B', for the 2017-18season.
The squad, led by AFC Pro-License holder Naushad Moosa,is formed with a view of bridging the gap between the BFCAcademy and the first team.
Keeping the player pathway as the focal point of theBlues' newest project, the management is committed onproviding the best facilities at a professional level for upand coming Indian talent and has signed several young playersfor the season.
While two graduates, Leon Augustine and PrashanthKalinga, from the inaugural batch of BFC's Residential Academyin Bellary have been drafted into the squad, seven excitingplayers from the India U-19 set-up have also been signed.
These youngsters, along with six other BFC Academyplayers who are part of BFC 'B', are eligible to represent theBlues in the U18 I-League.
Meanwhile, five players from the squad - Gurpreet SinghSandhu, Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Robinson Khumukcham, PrashanthKalinga and Leon Augustine - are part of the Blues squad forthe ongoing AFC Cup 2017.
Club CTO Mandar Tamhane said, "When we started the BFCResidential academy, we also had plans for BFC 'B'. Withcompetitive action at the national stage only available tillthe Under-18 level, it's very crucial for youngstersgraduating out of the academy to get competitive action.
"At 18, not all players are ready for the intense demandsof the first team, and so with the 'B' side we are trying tobridge that gap. It's no different than our first team, andalong with a few graduates from our academy, we have scoutedfor some talented young players from all over the country whodo have the potential to progress through to our first team."The squad, formed predominantly with Under-23 players,has been training over the last few weeks at the BangaloreFootball Stadium, and will be playing in the 2nd DivisionLeague, conducted by the All India Football Federation, apartfrom the upcoming BDFA Bengaluru Super Division, and otherall-India level tournaments.
The Squad:Goalkeepers: Shainkhan Chilappuram, Aditya Patra,Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Jaffer MondalDefenders: Asheer Akthar, B. Lalnuntluanga, Shahabaaz,Prashant Kalinga, Namgyal Bhutia, Amal Das KR, V. LalengzamaMidfielders: Myron Mendes, Suman Sarkar, KyntiewshaphrangKharlukhi (Keke), Sk. Azaruddin, Robinson Khumukcham,Bidyananda Singh, Ajay Chhetri, Shelton Paul, Lalrinfela,Biswa Kumar Darjee, Leon Augustine, Naorem Roshan SinghForwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Parag Shrivas, Cletus Paul,Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Kishori. PTI AHAH.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.