AIFF Media Team

JSW Sports launched its new football club, Bengaluru FC with an electric show at the Bangalore Football Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Saturday. The club is all set to make its début in the I-league 2013-14 Season.

Along with the name, the club unveiled the squad, the crest and the team colours at the event which had JSW Group’s chairman and managing director Mr. Sajjan Jindal, the president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Mr. Praful Patel, president of the Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) Mr. AR Khaleel and members from the KSFA and Bangalore District Football Association (BDFA) in attendance.

“We are happy that a company like JSW has come forward to support football. This is a great moment for the city of Bengaluru and Indian football. There are a few hotbeds in India as far as football is concerned like Goa, Kolkata and Kerala and we believe Bengaluru will get there too,” Mr. Praful Patel, President of the All India Football Federation said.

Mr. Sajjan Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director of JSW added, “This is a landmark moment for everyone at JSW as well as the football-loving people of Bengaluru and India. We would like to thank the All India Football Federation and the Karnataka State Football Association without whose support this would not have been possible. We are certain the club will raise the bar for professionally run football teams in the country along with being the ideal platform for youth development.”

A spectacular display of fireworks was used to unveil the name of the club followed by a dazzling laser show that revealed the club’s crest. The evening ended with the unveiling and introduction of the squad.

The Bengaluru outfit will be playing all their home matches at the Bangalore Football Stadium. The club has roped in former Manchester United youth player Ashley Westwood as Head Coach.

“These are exciting times for Bengaluru FC together with JSW. I feel privileged to be a manager here and the players should be privileged as well to represent Bengaluru as a city and a JSW. We will, without doubt, be the most organised outfit in the I-League and we look forward to many successful years with the club,” quipped Westwood.

India Captain Sunil Chhetri and India striker Robin Singh are also part of the Squad.

The squad till now:

Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh, John Johnson, Malemnganba Metei, Karan Sawhney, Gurtej Singh, Keegan Pereira, Darren Caldeira, Rino Anto, Bruno Colaco, Pawan Kumar, Don Bosco Andrew, Ricardo Cardozo, Lazorama Fanai, Vishal Kumar, Kutty Mani and Thoi Singh.

(Picture courtesy: JSW Sports)