JOIN USBengaluru FC unveiled
JSW Group launched their much-awaited club at a gala function here on Saturday night, expectedly naming it Bengaluru Football Club.
After an evening marked by beating drums, performance from folk-rock band Swarathma and laser light shows, JSW unveiled the 17 members of the squad, their coach Ashley Westwood and his assistant Pradhyum Singh at a well-attended ceremony at the Bangalore Football Stadium. Bengaluru FC will be seen in action in this year’s I-League.
“This is a great day for Indian football,” said All India Football Federation president Praful Patel after unveiling the team jersey along with Sajjan Jindal, the chairman and managing director of JSW.
“I’m very happy JSW has come forward to take Indian football forward. It is one of AIFF’s endeavours to upgrade the standard of Indian football. We’ve not reached anywhere near the intended level but this is baby step forward in that direction,” he added.
“This is a very important moment for JSW as well as Bangalore football,” said Sajjan. “We would like to thank the AIFF and KSFA (Karnataka State Football Association) without whose support this would not have been achievable. We are certain that the club will raise the bar for professionally run football teams in the country along with being the ideal platform for youth development,” he said.
Westwood, who started as a trainee for English giants Manchester United before serving as an assistant coach at Blackburn Rovers, was thrilled to be associated with JSW. “These are exciting times for Bengaluru FC together with JSW. I think the club has given a strong squad and with Pradhyum as an assistant, I’m confident of taking the club forward.
“The biggest thing the club has done is roping in Sunil Chhetri. He is the No 1 striker in India. His forward partner in the Indian team -- Robin Singh giving him company here as well, I’m confident of achieving good results. I’m yet to speak to all of them but, Pradhyum has some experience of working with some of them and I’m sure his inputs will be invaluable.”
The squad: Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh, John Johnson, Malemnganba Metei, Karan Sawhney, Gurtej Singh, Keegan Pereira, Darren Caldeira, Rino Anto, Bruno Colaco, Pawan Kumar, Don Bosco Andrew, Ricardo Cardozo, Lazorama Fanai, Vishal Kumar, Kutty Mani, Thoi Singh. Coach: Ashley Westwood. Assistant coach: Pradhyum Singh.