Kerala Blasters sign Thongkhosiem Haokip from Salgaocar FC for ISL 2016

KERALA BLASTERS announced today its new signing of Thongkhosiem Haokip for the upcoming edition of the Indian Super League 2016.

Popularly known as ‘Semboi’, the 22 year old gifted striker, who had a fabulous run last season scoring four goals from six appearances for FC Goa, will now don the yellow jersey for Kerala Blasters.

Thongkhosiem Haokip started his career with the Pune FC youth academy where he became the first academy player to net a hat-trick in an under-20 match. His fondness for scoring hat-tricks can be seen from his performance in the I-League 2014-15 season where he scored three times within 15 minutes against Shillong Lajong. He finished the season as the highest Indian goal scorer with seven goals in 18 matches. He repeated the hat-trick in the previous season of ISL becoming the first Indian player to score a hat-trick both in the ISL and the I-League.

Thongkhosiem Haokip said,

“I am excited to be part of Kerala Blasters and hope to justify the faith put in me by the coach and the management. I am looking forward to meet and train with my new teammates and coach Steve Coppell.”

Viren D’Silva, CEO, Kerala Blasters said,

"We welcome the young ever smiling Thongkhosiem Haokip into the Kerala Blasters family. We were impressed with his performances last season for Goa fc and hope he continues his form into this year the coaching staff have earmarked him as one for the future.”