AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Sporting Goa have completed the signing of Nigerian midfielder Martins Ekwueme. Midfielder Roystan D’Souza and defender Chinta Chandrashekar have also joined their ranks, according to the Club’s statement.

Martins who spent many years in the Polish top flight, is set to replace Spanish midfielder Arturo Garcia, who picked up a serious knee injury during his heroics in the Federation Cup recently where the Flaming Oranje finished as runners-up.

Chinta will be familiar to the Sporting Goa fans, having spent four fruitful seasons with the Goan outfit and was part of the team which lifted the Hutch Goa Professional League in 2006.

Roystan is the only one of the three new signings, who is likely to make his debut against Pune in the I-League on Sunday evening.

“I am pleased with the three quality new signings and I am grateful to the management, for ensuring our team stays competitive in the remaining half of the I-League,” stated a delighted Sporting Goa Coach Oscar Bruzon.

Sporting, who are currently second in the table with 27 points from fourteen games, play third-placed Pune FC on the road in a mouthwatering tie Sunday.

Sporting Goa had to leave behind defender Joyner Lourenco (groin), Pratesh Shirodkar (knee) and Stephene Barretto (ankle), although Bruzon is very confident.

“The squad has been working well and every player is eager to fight for their place in the first eleven which is a promising sign,” stated Bruzon.

When the two teams met in the first stage of the I-League, Sporting Goa defeated Pune 2-0 courtesy India Intrnational Victorino Fernandes and Pratesh.

(Picture courtesy: Sporting Clube de Goa Media Department)