SPORTING CLUBE DE GOA are strengthening their midfield and defence by signing on 3 experienced players after disappointing performance in their first two games in I-League 2015-16.
First name on the list of new recruits is that of Mehrajuddin Wadoo, the 31 year old medio-defender who has played for many of the prominent top division clubs in the country. He also played a prominent role for Pune City and Chennaiyin FC in the two editions of ISL. In 2015, he was one of the best defenders in the private tournament. Wadoo has also represented India 32 times, and scored 2 international goals.
Trinidad and Tobago world cupper Densill Theobald is also going to join the Flaming Oranjes. The central midfielder has played in Europe as well as Canada in the past. His first stint in India was for Dempo in 2011-12. Theobald represented Royal Wahingdoh last season and represented them in all 20 I-League matches. A regular senior member of his national team, Theobald was without a club since Royal Wahingdoh decided to withdraw from the I-League earlier this season. This is probably the most crucial new signing for Sporting Clube de Goa; it gives their midfield a good amount of solidity and opens up a strong channel for initiating attacks.
Another asset in the central midfield, arriving on loan from FC Goa, is Denson Devadas. The 33 year old has plied his trade at Viva Kerala, United SC and Mohun Bagan in the I-League and played for Chennaiyin FC in the inaugural ISL.
The Sporting Clube de Goa squad has failed to inspire much confidence as Mateus Costa's boys lost the opening game to East Bengal, then managed to earn a disappointing draw against DSK Shivajians, both at home. These signings, they will hope, will go a long way to consolidate the team's midriff on the pitch and facilitate a faster exchange between the defence and the attackers. Especially Denson, who has worked with the current SC Goa captain and striker Odafa Okolie in the past at Mohun Bagan, is expected to fit right into the squad of the Fatorda-based club.