Salgaocar FC Extend Duffy Contract Retain Core Squad For Upcoming Season
SALGAOCAR FC have retained the services of Scottish striker Darryl Duffy, Indian International Augustin Fernandes (Atletico de Kolkata), left-back Gurjinder Kumar (Pune City FC) and long-serving midfielder Rocus Lamare who will return to spend his 12th consecutive year at the Vasco based club, for the upcoming season.
Duffy, who will be donning the Green of Salgaocar for the third season running, is the club’s first foreign signing of the 2015-16 campaign. Having made a whirlwind start to his playing career in India, leading the goal-scoring charts with 14 goals in his first season in the I-League, Duffy added 7 more goals to his tally last year, which included the all-important final goal of the season that ensured the Greens’ survival in top flight.
The Greens signed Scottish gaffer Malcolm “Malky’ Thomson only a couple of weeks ago, and he is expected to touch down in Goa in a week’s time. Coincidentally, Malky, was at Rangers in a coaching role when Duffy was with the club as a youngster.
“His (Malky’s) enthusiasm & love of the game is second to none. He’s a top notch coach as well. I’m thoroughly looking forward to working with him and learning from him in the upcoming campaign. That was a big factor in my decision to come back to Salgaocar for another season. We are hoping for a successful and enjoyable campaign,” remarked Duffy.
The Greens have also managed to retain the services of young talented shot-stopper Albino Gomes and right back Nicolau Colaco who were picked by Mumbai City FC and FC Goa franchises respectively, for the upcoming edition of the Indian Super League. The other players to have been retained by the club are Gilbert Oliveira, Rosario Mendes, Clifton Dias, Brian Mascarenhas, Aslon Oliveira, Leny Pereira, Pawan Kumar, Umesh Harijan and keeper Abhijit Das.
While Duffy and Rocus are expected to join the squad in early August, Augustin, Gurjinder, Nicolau and Albino will return to the squad in January prior to the start of the I-League.