Dhanachandra Singh and Fulganco Cardozo headline Chennaiyin's mass exodus
A total of eight players from last season's title-winning party have left the club.
Reigning Indian Super League champions Chennaiyin FC today bid farewell to a long-standing member of its family – Dhanachandra Singh, along with seven others from last season’s title winning squad. Bikramjit Singh, Keenan Almeida, Jude Nworuh, Fulganco Cardozo, Sanjay Balmuchu, Pawan Kumar and Shahin Lal Meloli parted ways with the club along with Dhana as their contracts with the two-time ISL champions expired on Thursday.
Chennaiyin have already retained 13 players from last season for their title defence, with Head Coach John Gregory and Sports Scientist Dr. Niall Clark also signing one-year extensions. It will be a landmark season in the club’s history with a first taste of continental football therein as participation in the 2019 AFC Cup beckons.
A mainstay in defence, Dhana played in 26 of the 28 matches across the first two ISL seasons for Chennaiyin. He was an integral part of the backline that finished top of the league standings in 2014 before becoming champions the season after. Blessed with a sublime left-foot, Dhana scored a goal apiece in the first two campaigns, his second strike a memorable volley against Kerala Blasters right at the start of the historic five-match winning run that culminated in title triumph for Chennaiyin.
Unfortunately a knee injury kept him out of the 2016 season before he played his part with three appearances in the previous campaign as Chennaiyin lifted the ISL trophy a second time. Fittingly Dhana led the side in his final ISL game for CFC against Mumbai City last season, when the club had a record breaking ten Indian players on the pitch at full time.
Chennaiyin also said goodbye to Bikramjit , who was a gritty presence in the Chennaiyin midfield enroute the title last season. He built a formidable partnership alongside Dhanpal Ganesh in the middle, with CFC being unbeaten in every game that he started. Another resolute presence departing from the club is Keenan, who slotted in at right-back at crucial junctures with his performance in a goalless draw away at Kerala Blasters eventually sealing qualification for the play-offs.
Keenan’s Goan compatriot Fulganco Cardozo too leaves after a season at the club with one senior appearance to his name. A thorough and experienced professional, Fulganco even captained the newly formed Chennaiyin FC ‘B’ team briefly, imparting valuable lessons to the youngsters in the squad.
Sanjay Balmuchu along with goalkeepers Pawan Kumar and Shahin Lal Meloli will also not be turning out in Chennaiyin colours next season. Pawan joined the club midway through the triumphant 2015 campaign as a replacement for the injured Nidhinlal and like Dhana he was part of both the title winning squads. He departs now after keeping a clean sheet in his final match for the club against Mumbai City last season.
At the other end of the pitch, Chennaiyin bid adieu to its pacey Nigerian attacker Jude Nworuh, who was a lethal component of the squad from the bench. He made a total of 11 appearances for the club.
Chennaiyin FC would like to thank each and every one of these players for their contribution and professionalism; and wish them the best of luck for their future endeavours.
No losses at all, even bikramjit despite playing a lot of games needs someone to support him in the middle, more a passer than someone who can make things happen.
Good for them to be let go so they can play elsewhere and also reduce the wage bill
Reigning Indian Super League champions Chennaiyin FC will travel to Malaysia for a four-week pre-season camp commencing on Monday August 13.
The two-time ISL winners will depart from Chennai in the early hours of Monday morning. CFC will be based in Malaysia’s capital city Kuala Lumpur. They will be using the training facility of Sime Darby Football Club.
CFC’s Indian contingent convened in Chennai yesterday to undergo their pre-season medical assessments prior to leaving for Malaysia, along with Head Coach John Gregory who arrived in the city in the early hours of Thursday morning. The foreign players and rest of the foreign coaching staff will be directly reporting to Malaysia.
Chennaiyin FC is set to play four friendly matches in Malaysia and will return to Chennai on September 11 to continue the preparations ahead of the new season that will involve their ISL title defence and a debut in the AFC Cup.
With four players – Jerry Lalrinzuala, Anirudh Thapa, Germanpreet Singh and Isaac Vanmalsawma – at India’s SAFF Championship preparatory camp, six members of CFC’s B team will also be part of the travelling squad.
They are defenders Saurabh Meher, Ajin Tom and Hendry Antonay, central midfielders Zonunmawia and Bibin Boban, and winger Bedashwor Singh. Two B team players will be promoted to the 25-man final ISL squad.
Chennai will shift base this season They will no more practice at that avg Nehru park turf which costs 75k per session and will nolonger live at hotels
They have shifted base to Ramachandra Medical college grounds and players will live in apartments
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I wrote Chennaiyin FC season review last week
Do read
Dhanachandra Singh and Fulganco Cardozo headline Chennaiyin's mass exodus
A total of eight players from last season's title-winning party have left the club.
Reigning Indian Super League champions Chennaiyin FC today bid farewell to a long-standing member of its family – Dhanachandra Singh, along with seven others from last season’s title winning squad. Bikramjit Singh, Keenan Almeida, Jude Nworuh, Fulganco Cardozo, Sanjay Balmuchu, Pawan Kumar and Shahin Lal Meloli parted ways with the club along with Dhana as their contracts with the two-time ISL champions expired on Thursday.
Chennaiyin have already retained 13 players from last season for their title defence, with Head Coach John Gregory and Sports Scientist Dr. Niall Clark also signing one-year extensions. It will be a landmark season in the club’s history with a first taste of continental football therein as participation in the 2019 AFC Cup beckons.
A mainstay in defence, Dhana played in 26 of the 28 matches across the first two ISL seasons for Chennaiyin. He was an integral part of the backline that finished top of the league standings in 2014 before becoming champions the season after. Blessed with a sublime left-foot, Dhana scored a goal apiece in the first two campaigns, his second strike a memorable volley against Kerala Blasters right at the start of the historic five-match winning run that culminated in title triumph for Chennaiyin.
Unfortunately a knee injury kept him out of the 2016 season before he played his part with three appearances in the previous campaign as Chennaiyin lifted the ISL trophy a second time. Fittingly Dhana led the side in his final ISL game for CFC against Mumbai City last season, when the club had a record breaking ten Indian players on the pitch at full time.
Chennaiyin also said goodbye to Bikramjit , who was a gritty presence in the Chennaiyin midfield enroute the title last season. He built a formidable partnership alongside Dhanpal Ganesh in the middle, with CFC being unbeaten in every game that he started. Another resolute presence departing from the club is Keenan, who slotted in at right-back at crucial junctures with his performance in a goalless draw away at Kerala Blasters eventually sealing qualification for the play-offs.
Keenan’s Goan compatriot Fulganco Cardozo too leaves after a season at the club with one senior appearance to his name. A thorough and experienced professional, Fulganco even captained the newly formed Chennaiyin FC ‘B’ team briefly, imparting valuable lessons to the youngsters in the squad.
Sanjay Balmuchu along with goalkeepers Pawan Kumar and Shahin Lal Meloli will also not be turning out in Chennaiyin colours next season. Pawan joined the club midway through the triumphant 2015 campaign as a replacement for the injured Nidhinlal and like Dhana he was part of both the title winning squads. He departs now after keeping a clean sheet in his final match for the club against Mumbai City last season.
At the other end of the pitch, Chennaiyin bid adieu to its pacey Nigerian attacker Jude Nworuh, who was a lethal component of the squad from the bench. He made a total of 11 appearances for the club.
Chennaiyin FC would like to thank each and every one of these players for their contribution and professionalism; and wish them the best of luck for their future endeavours.Apart from Bikramjit Singh , Pawan Kumar (and may be Dhana & Keenan) no one have strong resume based on their current performances...
Good for them to be let go so they can play elsewhere and also reduce the wage bill
Chennaiyin FC to have pre-season camp in Malaysia
The two-time ISL winners will depart from Chennai in the early hours of Monday morning. CFC will be based in Malaysia’s capital city Kuala Lumpur. They will be using the training facility of Sime Darby Football Club.
CFC’s Indian contingent convened in Chennai yesterday to undergo their pre-season medical assessments prior to leaving for Malaysia, along with Head Coach John Gregory who arrived in the city in the early hours of Thursday morning. The foreign players and rest of the foreign coaching staff will be directly reporting to Malaysia.
Chennaiyin FC is set to play four friendly matches in Malaysia and will return to Chennai on September 11 to continue the preparations ahead of the new season that will involve their ISL title defence and a debut in the AFC Cup.
With four players – Jerry Lalrinzuala, Anirudh Thapa, Germanpreet Singh and Isaac Vanmalsawma – at India’s SAFF Championship preparatory camp, six members of CFC’s B team will also be part of the travelling squad.
They are defenders Saurabh Meher, Ajin Tom and Hendry Antonay, central midfielders Zonunmawia and Bibin Boban, and winger Bedashwor Singh. Two B team players will be promoted to the 25-man final ISL squad.
http://www.chennaiyinfc.com/chennaiyin-fc-to-have-pre-season-camp-in-malaysia
Will be based in Sri Ramachandra Medical college, players are likely to reside there to and not in 5 star hotels
They will no more practice at that avg Nehru park turf which costs 75k per session and will nolonger live at hotels
They have shifted base to Ramachandra Medical college grounds and players will live in apartments