Chika Wali to join Ozone FC

If sources are to be believed, football fans of the Garden City might see another top footballer playing in the namma city. Nigerian central defender, a veteran in Indian domestic football scene, Chika Wali is set to join  Ozone Football Club, Bengaluru. 

Playing his 10th season in India, Chika has earlier played for various I-League teams like Pune FC, United Sports, Salgaocar, and Mumbai FC. 

[PICs] Bengaluru FC vs United Sports - Away

Courtesy: Bengaluru FC and United Sports Media

Bengaluru FC sign Versatile Midfielder Vineeth

Bengaluru FC Media

Bengaluru FC on Thursday announced the signing of versatile midfielder CK Vineeth from United Sports Club on a deal that runs through the end of the season. Dubbed as serious title contenders after an impressive debut season that sees them atop the table, Bengaluru’s shoring up of their midfield with the signing is a statement of intent. The youngster trained with the team at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Thursday. 

Twenty-five-year-old Vineeth’s first tryst with the I-League was in the 2010-11 season where he scored on debut for Viva Kerala. In the League’s 2012-13 edition, he ended up as highest Indian scorer with seven goals. 

“I am absolutely pleased to sign for Bengaluru FC. Everyone is seeing what the club is doing and the chance to be a part of something this exciting was difficult to turn down. I spoke to a lot of people before taking the decision and all of them had only nice things to say. I also dropped by and had a small run down of the way things at the club are done and I was totally impressed. I also had managed a word with Sunil Chhetri and he spoke highly of the club,” said the Kannur-born lad who started his football with stints at Chennai Customs and Kerala State Electricity Board. 

Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood was pleased with the club’s latest acquisition. “We are very happy and pleased to have Vineeth on board. He is a player we have been tracking for a while now and someone who had a good last season in the I-League. I’m sure he will be a good addition to the squad and will give us genuine competition for places as he can cover a number of roles. Hopefully, with our methods and standards, we will improve him as an individual and get him back in the national squad,” said Westwood. 

[PICS] Bengaluru FC Vs United Sports, I-League, 2013-14

[VIDEO] Bengaluru FC Vs United Sports - post match reactons

Video courtesy: Tridib Bose 

Home team 

Away team 

[PICS] United Sports Practice - I-League, 2013-14

Confident Bengaluru FC meets injury-struck United Sports

The host Bengaluru FC, riding on a confident show so far and their opponent United Sports Club, 100% win record till date, a developed side with foreign experts and a team to beat! Sunday’s battle at the Bangalore Football Stadium will be the battle of the top two teams in I-League. 

“A new developing side perhaps require development in all areas”, cites gaffer Ashley Westwood. "We play every game to win" and should take them to the top of the league table. 

News from the Bengaluru FC camp is that, Manpreet Singh, who is yet to start a game for the JSW-sponsored team is out injured due to ACL tear. The good news is definitely in the form of Malemngamba Meetei who will come back to tomorrow’s match after seating out the match against Rangdajied United owing to heavy fever.

United Sports have injury woes galore. As if running an I-League team without a sponsor was not enough, the team regrouped quite late in the season. With less than 3-weeks of practice they started their I-League campaign, and yet managed to win the first two matches convincingly. 

United's Dutch coach Eelco Schattorie puts his team’s situation as "Survival Mode" and he states, “It is difficult to prepare a team in less than three weeks". 

In last couple of weeks he has seen five of his prominent players getting injured - midfield general Lalkamal Bhowmick fracturing his ankle, Tapan Maity, Dipak Mondal Jr, goalkeeper Swaroop Das, and the latest being central defender Anupam Sarkar. Sarkar fractured his nose in today's practice session after he went for a header and looks doubtful for tomorrow's game.  

Also in the list is talented midfielder Vineeth who could not join the practice session today owing to sickness.  

When you have a team ‘playing every game to win’ and another high on morale, despite of woes on and off the field, sure the match will reach great heights!