Blues get keeper on loan from Pune FC; Westwood believes he’ll challenge Ralte for first team spot
With less than two weeks to start of the 2015-16 I-League season, Bengaluru FC have further shored up their squad with the signing of goalkeeper Amrinder Singh who joins the Blues from Pune FC on a loan deal till the end of the season.
Twenty-two-year-old Singh, who was impressive in his loan-stint with ISL semifinalists Atletico de Kolkata this season, becomes Bengaluru’s eighth signing of the new season after Kim Song-Yong, Alwyn George, Salam Ranjan Singh, Len Doungel and the three India under-19s in Nishu Kumar, Daniel Lalhlimpuia and Malsawmzuala.
“I am delighted at signing with Bengaluru FC till the end of the season and I don’t really think I need to say much about the kind of professionalism this club is known for. I’ve been through a session and can comfortably say I am at the best possible place in Indian football at the moment,” said Amrinder who will be giving Lalthuammawia Ralte stiff competition for a place in the first XI.
Hailing from the town of Mahilpur, Punjab, Amrinder spent four seasons with Pune FC before his loan stint with Atletico Kolkata. Blues coach Ashley Westwood was equally pleased at landing the ’keeper. “We’re pleased and delighted to sign Amrinder. We are always looking for young and potentially good Indian players at our football club and he fits that mould. He’s coming in to challenge Ralte for his No.1 spot.” said Westwood after a training session at the Bangalore Football Stadium, on Friday.
Westwood, who was a television pundit at the ISL, said he kept a keen eye on Amrinder and has no doubts that he will only improve under the Blues’ coaching set up. “Amrinder had a fairly successful ISL campaign that I watched quite closely. He made one or two mistakes, but mistakes that he’ll learn from and with the coaching staff here and the guidance of Ali (Uzunhasanoglu), the goalkeeper coach, which is quite unique to India, we feel that he can become a valuable asset to the club and the country.”
Bengaluru kick off their I-League campaign with an away trip to Salgaocar on January 9.
