Xtra Time Web Desk: Sporting Club East Bengal on Monday announced the signing of former Birmingham City midfielder Jacques Maghoma on ine year contract. He will be the sixth foreign footballer to be signed by the Red and Gold club.
32 year old Maghoma, who hails from Democratic Republic of Congo began his career with Tottenham Hotspur, and has also played for Sheffield Wednesday and Burton Albion, where he was the player of the season for 2012–13. He spent five seasons with Birmingham City, and was their player of the year for 2017–18. He made his international debut for DR Congo in 2010.
The 5’6″ tall attacking midfielder will join Scott Neville (defender), Anthony Pilkington (midfielder), Aaron Holloway (striker), Danny Fox (defender) and Matti Steinmann (midfielder). Most of the SC East Bengal footballers have already reached Goa on October 16 and are quarantining themselves.
Talking about his new challenge, Maghoma said, “I am absolutely thrilled to start my new chapter with SC East Bengal. I have only heard good things about the club which is 100 years old, and I cannot wait to pull on the red and gold shirt and take the field in the Indian Super League.”
He added, “I am looking forward to joining my teammates in Goa and having a successful season with SC East Bengal. I also know the fan base of SC East Bengal and I am so eager to engage with them and repay them for the faith they have in us. As always, I will do my utmost for them.”
Meanwhile the newly formed SC East Bengal club has decided not to register 15 footballers for ISL 2020-21. All these footballers were already registered with East Bengal before Shree Cement Foundation entered into a tie up. Despite their non registration for Indian Super League season 2020-21, their previous contracts will be honoured by the new management.
Before getting into a tie up with Shree Cement Foundation, East Bengal officials had already signed and retained several footballers like Cavin Lobo and Lalrindika Ralte. Indian origin Iranian winger Omid Singh has also been released after not finding favour with head coach Robbie Fowler.
But the good thing is, all the players who will not be registered for ISL have been given an option by the new management to find a club for themselves in the I-League. If they fail to get another offer, they have been assured that they will be retained by the club and kept in their reserves squad which will be fielded in tournaments like Calcutta Football League (CFL).
Here is the full list of players who will not be registered for the 2020-21 ISL season.
Omid Singh, Jaime Santos Colado, Milan Singh, Girik Khosla, Vikas Saini, Prakash Sarkar, Manoj Mohammad, Brandon Vanlalremdika, C.K Vineeth, Rino Anto, Novin Gurung, Cavin Lobo, Keegan Perreira, Lalrindika Ralte and Boithang Haokip.