Newly promoted I-League side Mohammedan Sporting has continued to strengthen their side ahead of the 2020-2021 league season as they get closer to the signing of Jamal Bhuyan.

Jamal’s potential signature comes after the team, on Tuesday, announced the signature of Avinabo Bag who was previously with Bhawanipore last season and has also played for Kerala Blasters in the India Super League.

Jamal is the captain of the Bangladesh national team and played against India in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 2019.

Jamal Bhuyan, born in Denmark, started his youth career with Danish giants FC Copenhagen, before playing for Danish second division club Hellerup IK.

He spent a couple of seasons playing in Europe before moving back to his home country in 2014 when he joined Sheikh Jamal Dhanmodi Club, playing for the club for two seasons between 2014-16.

He also played for Sheikh Russel and Saif Sporting Club, and has won a couple of Bangladesh Premier League titles.

The 30-year-old is prominent for his performances with the Bangladesh national team, making 44 appearances for the team in competitions like the South Asian games as well as the SAFF Championship.

With the national team, he has two Bronze medal in the South Asian Games which he won in 2016 & 2019. He was also instrumental as the Bangladesh U-23 side qualified for the 2018 Asian Games.

Aside from Bhuyan, the team has also brought Nigerian forward Raphael Onwrebe and Nepali footballer Abhishek Rijal as their other foreign players, boosting the team’s depth as they return to the top-flight in over seven years.

They, however, return to an unfamiliar I-League which will be played without fans as the 2020-2021 I-League will be played in West Bengal behind closed doors because of the pandemic.

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu