AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: I-League outfit Pune FC have roped in Goan left-winger Anthony D’Souza from Salgaocar for the coming 2013-14 season.

Pune FC Head Operations, Chirag Tanna said: “We have been tracking Anthony for a couple of years now and we are delighted to have signed him. I am certain that he will play an important role for us in the 2013-14 season.”

Siolim-based Anthony lit up the 2012 Federation Cup in Salgaocar colours, scoring in each of the three group games in Jamshedpur. As a result he ended up being the top scoring Indian in the group stage and the second top-scoring Indian in the tournament.

Interestingly, it was Anthony’s winning strike in the final group game that dashed Pune FC’s hopes of progress.

“I would like to thank Pune FC for the opportunity,” Anthony said.

“It’s a new challenge and I am ready for it. Honestly, I have never been out of the state (Goa) to play. The challenge that I mean is about coping with the job on hand. I am ready to work hard. My parents support me with this and I am sure I will live up to the expectations,” he added.

Having begun with a flourish last season, Anthony struck a purple patch and had a forgettable start to the I-League campaign. An injury in the opening I-League encounter away at United Sikkim led to him missing the first-half of the season.

The 26-year-old, however, returned to full-fitness in the second half of the season, before making a comeback as a substitute in a Round 21 win over Mumbai FC. This followed with two more games against United SC and Churchill Brothers for Salgaocar.

Before plying his trade at Salgaocar last season, Anthony was a regular and key member of the Sporting Clube de Goa squad given his assists, dribbling and a constant goal scoring threat.

The medio scored five goals in the 2011-12 season, which included two double strikes leading him to become the third top scoring Indian midfielder of that season behind fellow left wingers Clifford Miranda and Lalrindika Ralte.

Anthony had also featured and scored his first I-League goal for Sporting Clube back in the 2009-10 season when they were relegated. Anthony continued to be a part of the side that fought back and earned promotion from Division-2 in 2011. 

A product of the SESA Football Academy, Anthony initially joined Sporting in 2006 before spending the 2007-08 season at local Goan club Velsao Pale.

(Picture Courtesy: Pune FC)