ISL: FC Goa sign defender Narayan Das on one-year deal

FC Goa has acquired the services of defender Narayan Das ahead of the upcoming Indian Super League 2023-24 season, the club made the announcement on Wednesday. The 29-year-old has put pen to paper for a one-year contract, which will keep him at the club till the end of the forthcoming season.

Das played for Chennaiyin FC in the previous season of the ISL and made a total of six appearances for the Marina Machans. In fact, Das has had two stints with the Gaurs, in the inaugural season in 2014 and also in the 2017-18 edition. He played a total of 42 matches in the ISL for FC in his earlier two stints.

The left-back is delighted to return to the FC Goa outfit and wants to give his absolute best in the upcoming season.

“It feels great to be back. I played a lot of my football in Goa and this is my second home, my home away from home. Now that I’m back with FC Goa, I want to do my best here,” Narayan Das said, after signing on the dotted line for the Men in Orange.

“A lot of things have changed since I was last here, but the similarities are the fans and the management. The fans continue to support us just like they have done right from the start, while the management is just as ambitious as they have always been. I’m excited to see the upgraded training facilities; we now have a set home training base as well as great support staff.

“This year, we have a reputed coach in Manolo Marquez who has worked wonders in Indian football, and I’m really looking forward to playing under him,” the 29-year-old added.

Ravi Puskur, FC Goa’s Director of Football also weighed in on the Club’s latest acquisition, saying, “We are delighted to welcome Narayan Das back to the FC Goa family. With his wealth of experience, he brings a valuable blend of skill and resilience to our squad.

“As we embark on our tenth season in the ISL, we believe that Narayan’s presence will bolster our defense and contribute to our pursuit of success on the pitch. We look forward to witnessing his continued growth and achievements in the Club’s colors,” he continued.

Das has experience of playing for clubs like East Bengal, Pune City FC, Delhi Dynamos, Odisha FC, and Chennaiyin FC in the I-League and the ISL.