Over to Mumbai

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A transfer of player from a top league to the second division is something that does not usually happen.

However, the newly-formed club from Mumbai, Dodsal FC, has started their preseason training by luring two of the best players from Kerala —Mohammad Rafi and N.P. Pradeep.

“The club officials gave us a presentation on their plans and how they are going to achieve it. I have not seen such a planning among the other clubs and I simply signed in with them,” says N.P. Pradeep, former Indian forward.

Pradeep was with Bengal giants Mohun Bagan while Mohammed Rafi was playing for Churchill Brothers the last season. “The club’s preseason training is going on in Mumbai.

This is something good, as there still are two more months for the start of the season. The kind of players and the facilities the club has arranged for us is by far the best. These kinds of clubs recognise the real value of a player,” says Pradeep.

The club has also signed in East Bengal keeper Sandip Nandy, Pune FC midfielder Paresh Shivalkar, Thoi Singh, and Kali Aliuddin to their squads. The team is trained by former Air India coach Bimal Ghosh.

“Even if it’s a second division club, its development plans have lured this many players to it. The promises they give and the other opportunities we get as players are the best in the country,” said Pradeep.

Asked about the pre-season preparations of the club, Pradeep says I-league qualification will be the season’s objective.

However, the Mumbai division and other tournaments will also be on the priority list. “With the induction into the club, I believe I could perform at my best this season,” he said.