FC Goa bolster their defence by signing one of India’s best defenders Sandesh Jhingan on a three-year contract. The India international will join the likes of Rowllin Borges and Udanta Singh, who have also arrived in this transfer window.
Jhingan, who is currently with the national team in Bengaluru for the SAFF Championships was delighted to join FC Goa.”I am happy at the chance to represent what is a fantastic football club. FC Goa have, and keep doing so many things consistently well, so to be able to contribute to that effort is something I am looking forward to,” he stated after putting pen to paper.
The experienced defender wants to know his teammates and also work with Manolo Marquez, who is regarded as one of the best tacticians on Indian soil. He also hailed the FC Goa fans for always lighting up the atmosphere. “I am excited to link up with my new teammates, the coaching staff and learn from all of them. Needless to say, I’m excited about the prospect of playing in front of the fans of this football club, who always seem to bring a fantastic atmosphere with them to the games,” he added.
Jhingan is one of the best Indian defenders of this generation and has been a mainstay for the Blue Tigers ever since he made his debut in the 2015 World Cup Qualifiers. Recently he guided India to their second Intercontinental Cup title by beating Lebanon in the final. India did not concede a single goal in the entire tournament and Jhingan deserves a lot of credit for leading the backline with aplomb.
FC Goa’s Director of Football, Ravi Puskur highlights how Jhingan brings a wealth of experience and character to their backline and he is very happy to welcome him to the club. “We are delighted to welcome Sandesh Jhingan back to Goa, where he has previously passed through on his footballing journey. Since then, he has grown tremendously and established himself as one of the country’s top players in his position. He brings a wealth of qualities not only on the field but also in the dressing room,” he stated.
FC Goa have always wanted to promote young talent but in the last few years, the team hasn’t had the results. They have appointed Manolo Marquez to raise their standards again and the Spaniard is probably looking to balance out his team with experience and young talents. Hence getting players like Borges, Udanta and Jhingan forms a strong foundation as the youngsters will look up to them and the likes of Brandon Fernandes.
With Jhingan’s inclusion, they know what they will get from him. He will lead the backline and will look to provide solidity at the back. He also brings character to the dressing room and will surely be a role model for the young players, who want to make it big just like him.
“Our search for players with a strong mentality and the ability to handle pressure led us to Sandesh. He is well-versed in navigating challenging situations, making him an invaluable asset. With his arrival, we aim to build a solid defensive unit, which forms the foundation of any successful team,” Puskur concluded.
