Bengaluru sign defenders Gursimrat Gill, Sairuat Kima

Bengaluru FC Media 

Bengaluru FC have completed the signing of youngsters Sairuat Kima and Gursimrat Singh Gill on two-year deals till the end of the 2019-2020 season, the club announced on Monday. The duo join Kean Lewis and Rino Anto in the Blues’ camp as they continue to reinforce their squad ahead of the AFC Cup Inter-Zone Semifinal tie against Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr FK in August.

Twenty-one-year-old Gursimrat, who first joined Bengaluru in 2016-17 season from the AIFF Elite Academy, went on to feature in the I-League and the AFC Cup campaigns before being part of the Federation Cup winning squad in May 2017. The youngster was excited to rejoin the Blues after spending a season with NorthEast United.

“I'm really happy to have joined Bengaluru FC again. I was unlucky to be injured for most parts of my first stint at the club, but I'm glad that the club kept an eye on me and wanted to bring me back. I'm looking forward to joining the team and playing a part again,” said Gursimrat who made five appearances for the Highlanders in the ISL. 

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Sairuat who joins the club from Jamshedpur FC, began his youth career with Mizoram-based Chanmari FC before joining the DSK Shivajians youth setup in Pune. He was promoted to the first team during the 2016-17 season where the 6’3” tall defender featured in the Durand Cup and the Federation Cup apart from being a mainstay in defense in the I-League. The U23 India International was then snapped up by Jamshedpur in the ISL 2017-18 draft and featured for the Jharkhand-based side in the Super Cup.

“This is a big moment for me, and I’m really grateful for this opportunity. I’m excited to play for a professional club like Bengaluru FC, one that I’ve admired a lot. To go onto the next level, I must train regularly with the best players and BFC have the finest of the lot. Playing with them is something I’m eagerly looking forward to and hopefully I’ll give my everything and achieve success with the club in the coming years,” said Sairuat after completing formalities. 

Bengaluru FC script history, march into AFC Cup semifinal

Bengaluru FC Media 
AFC Media 

Bengaluru FC added a special page in their short but successful history after a 0-0 (1-0 aggregate)draw against Tampines Rovers at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday night was enough to send them to the semifinal of the AFC Cup. The game that had way more than its fair share of drama with both teams creating chances aplenty, was seen through by Albert Roca’s boys who took control of things in a strong second half show.

The win over two legs set up a semifinal date with familiar foes and Cup holders Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia, where the Blues will travel to for the first leg on September 28 at the Larkin Stadium.

Coming into the game with a 1-0 result in the home leg, Roca decided to go with an unchanged starting XI. The bench, however, had two changes with Beikhokhei Beingaichho and Gursimrat Gill coming in place of Udanta Singh and Lalchhuanmawia who missed the trip with injuries.

Bengaluru’s best chance came in the 38th minute when a freekick variation caught the Tampines defence unawares but a sliding Eugeneson Lyngdoh couldn’t get his foot to what was a delicious pass across the face of the goal from CK Vineeth.

Only a minute later, Jermain Pennant fluffed his lines from inside the box when the former Arsenal man when he lobbed a half-hearted strike over the Blues’ goal. Earlier, Tampines’ Muhammad Hafiz came close to giving the hosts a lead when he intercepted a poor pass from Nishu Kumar and set off on a free run before his strike drew a save from Amrinder Singh.

The Blues got off to a bright start in the second half and Chhetri could have handed them a vital lead in the 48th minute when he lost a defender in the box before shooting, only for Mohamad Izwan to make a save.

A far cry from the frantic first half that saw them give away possession rather cheaply, the Blues turned up with a far more controlled show that saw them string passes and hold possession for long spells in the game.

Needing a goal to keep their hopes alive and take the game to extra-time, Tampines pressed high up and came close on a few occasions through Jordan Webb and Muhammad Hafiz. But the Bengaluru defence refused to press the panic button, making vital steals and patiently building up the game from the back. In the 77th minute Chhetri and Eugeneson exchanged a smart one-two but the latter’s shot lacked the sting it needed.

The Blues should have surely put the game to bed in the third of the five minutes of additional time but late substitute Vishal Kumar’s fierce strike was kept out by Izwan and Eugeneson’s follow-up strike ricocheted off the post with the ’keeper well beaten.

But none of the missed chances would come back to bite the Indian champions who joined Dempo SC and East Bengal to become only the third club from India to make it this far in the competition. 

Bengaluru sign young Gursimrat, Vishal bags extention, Darren Caldeira returns

Bengaluru FC Media

Staying true to its philosophy of promoting and honing young talent, Bengaluru FC have signed promising defender Gursimrat Singh (19) on a one-year deal, the club announced Tuesday. The I-League champions also added to the squad by signing familiar faces in defender Vishal Kumar and midfielder Darren Caldeira on short-term deals.

A regular in the India under-19 squad between 2014-15, Gursimrat spent five years at the Chandigarh Football Academy before being drafted into the AIFF Regional Academy in Navi Mumbai from where he went on to represent the country. He was also part of the AIFF squad that won the Under-19 I-League in 2015. “I am thrilled that I have signed my first professional contract with the best club in India. I am looking forward to learning and growing every day. This is a big chance for me early in my career and I am focused on making the most of it,” said Singh, who hails from Ludhiana.

Gursimrat was part of the SAFF Cup-winning India side of 2015 and also represented the country in the Under-19 AFC Championship in Palestine in the same year.

Caldeira, a Bengaluru player from 2013-2015, makes a return to the Blues after spending last season with Mumbai FC. Meanwhile local lad Vishal penned an extended deal after his three-year contract with the Blues ran out earlier in May.

Bengaluru head coach Albert Roca said the side could do with the new additions given the big AFC Cup game is less than a month away. “The club’s philosophy is to give young talent a stage and I believe that’s exactly what Gursimrat has got. He is talented, works hard and wants to keep improving which is a good sign for anyone taking the professional path. It’s also good to have Vishal and Darren back with the team. They have been with the club before but are working hard to bring value add to the squad which is what we need ahead of the AFC Cup tie,” he said.