Osano parts ways with Bengaluru FC

After a successful association with Bengaluru FC, which saw him win two I-League titles and a Federation Cup, the team’s defensive mainstay Curtis Osano has parted ways with the club by mutual consent. Osano will be heading to Hayes and Yeading United, a club in the seventh tier of English football, the English club announced on its website (www.hyufc.com).

Bengaluru had signed Osano in 2013 for a period of two years, a deal that was renewed in the beginning of the 2014-15 season. The new deal meant that the Kenyan-born defender would stay with the club till the end of 2015-16 season. However, with Bengaluru having to fail to work out a new agreement with their centre-back, Osano was free to negotiate with other clubs.

Bengaluru has only penned a new deal with their other English centre-back John Johnson and waiting for their new head coach Albert Rocca to take a call on the future of the other foreign recruits.

“Among the foreigners, we have only renewed John Johnson's contract. We haven't renewed Curtis's (Osano) contract. As of May 31, he was a free agent. So there was no continuation in his contract. The contracts of Josh Walker, Michael Collins and Kim have also not been renewed. These players are free to go anywhere,” said Mandar Tamhane, the chief technical officer of the club.

“The new coach will take a decision as to what the team needs. If by the time he arrives, these players have found other clubs, then there is nothing we can do. Of course, we're open to retaining Josh, Michael and Kim. If the new coach watches their videos and decides he wants to sign them, then we are open to it. Ideally, we'd like to keep all three of them. But that decision is left to the coach,” he added.