The debutants, SC East Bengal FC on Tuesday, announced their new goalkeeper Subrata Paul on loan from Hyderabad FC for the remaining season for the ISL 2020-21.
Subrata Paul, who is an Arjuna award recipient, and has been part of India’s title-winning sides that won the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, the 2015 SAFF Championship as well as the Nehru Cup victories in 2012 and 2009, will be playing his second stint with the SC East Bengal FC after 2008-09 where he clinched the federation cup with the team.
Paul has played six matches for Hyderabad FC this ISL 2020-21 season with two clean sheets. Also, he has kept almost 28 clean sheets in his ISL career with 91 appearances with clubs – Mumbai City FC, NorthEast United, Jamshedpur FC, and Hyderabad FC and is now all ready to move back to SC East Bengal FC.
Given the nickname of ‘Spiderman’ for his awestruck saves during India’s AFC Asian Cup campaign in Qatar in 2011, he has donned the India colours 67 times. He is one of the few Indian players who have played in Europe, a Danish club Vestsjaelland.
Paul in a statement expressed his feelings saying, “I can’t explain how happy and overwhelmed I am to be back at SC East Bengal. I know the weight and meaning of the red and gold colors. I consider myself very lucky and blessed to be a part of SC East Bengal. I cannot wait to get on the pitch and help them shine.”
“Subrata is vastly experienced and has been doing an amazing job between the sticks for a long time now. His signing bolsters our goalkeeping options. Subrata’s wealth of experience will also help the other keepers around,” SC East Bengal head coach Robbie Fowler said in a statement.
“We all know his experience and the quality that he has got. I have worked with him before at Jamshedpur FC and I know what he can bring to the squad. So hopefully he is ready to compete with Debjit Majumder for the first team place,” SC East Bengal goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms mentioned in a statement.
“I know his work rate. He works really hard and that rubs off on the other goalkeepers around him. It makes my job easier if goalkeepers want to work. On another note, I wish Sankar Roy all the best. He has also worked hard in training,” Bobby Mimms added.
