PANAJI: I-League champions Salgaocar has roped in Mohun Bagan striker Edeh Chidi for the upcoming season while dropping Yusif Yakubu who played a vital role in their triumph.
Besides Chidi, they have roped five more players to strengthen the squad -- Ishfafq Ahmed, Biswajit Saha (Mohun Bagan), Dada Nabeel (Air India), Mehrajudding Wadoo (East Bengal) and Kartik Kisku (Mohammedan).
Salgaocar's Secretary Raj Gomes said Chidi is a potent striker upfront who will do a good job for the team to replace Yakubu who has decided to pack his bags as he is not interested in playing in India.
The I-League champions have managed to retain their skipper Brazilian Luciano Sbrozo and Japanese midfielder Ryuji Sueoka, while Nigerian striker Ekene Ikenwa's contract will not be renewed.
"We still have one slot for a foreign player which will be filled later," said the club secretary.
Dempo rope in Joy, Koko
PANAJI: Dempo football club has roped in the strike duo of Koko Sakibo and Joy Ferrao and defender Rowilson Rodrigues for the upcoming season after two of the team's foreign players signed up with other sides.
The signings came after Dempo lost Roberto Silva and Ogba Kalu Nnanna to Churchill Brothers and Mohun Bagan respectively.
Koko and Ferrao were playing for Vasco before this, while Rodrigues was with the Churchill Brothers. "We have signed Joy and Koko," Dempo coach Armando Colaco said. "Rowilson has also signed for us."
Colaco, who is the interim coach of the Indian national team, on Thursday created a flutter by leaving out star striker Baichung Bhutia out of the probables list for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against the UAE. He said youngsters would be preferred in the team.
"I am thinking of another young player and nine of our junior team players will get promoted to the senior team," he said.