Mahindra Utd squad for 2009/10 Season

Thursday, 02. July 2009 - Sujay Sharma

Mahindra United have retained the nucleus of the side from last season.

where they clinched two titles, in the Durand Cup and the Mumbai League. The team has slightly reshaped its squad for the campaign ahead, and have drafted in four new players from other clubs.

To maintain a balanced squad within the new season’s budget limits, Mahindra United have slightly trimmed the squad from last season.

Taking stock of the squad on the positive side, Mahindra United have a fairly organized defence, being strengthened further by the inclusion of full-back Denzil Franco (Salgaocar Sports Club) while the arrival of midfielder K. Aseem (Mumbai FC) will provide the side with variety down the flanks.

Completing the list of new acquisitions are the young goalkeeper Subhodeep Mukherjee from Mohammedan AC, and in the striking department, an area of the game where they needed more firepower, Mahindra United have brought in the hardworking Nigerian striker from Chirag United, Subair Muritala Ali. Muri had impressed coach David Booth with his high work-rate and attitude.

The squad, which will get together for pre-season training on July 2, have several players who can play in different positions, giving the think-tank options to choose from in a squad with decent depth.

Majority of the players, apart from Nigerian striker Edeh Chidi, who have been released or left the club due to various reasons, had limited first team football at Mahindra United last season. The most notable departure is goalkeeper Sandip Nandy, who missed whole of the last season, recovering following a knee operation. Other prominent departures include India Junior Right Back Sunil Kumar and Japanese PIO attacking midfielder Arata Izumi both heading to Pune FC to team up with the former Mahindra coach Derrick Pereira. Ex-India striker Manjit Singh, man-mountain central defender Harpreet Singh, ex-TFA and Bagan left back Manas Das too have left or been released.

Amongst the coaching staff, former Dempo player and coach Mahesh Lotlikar too has left Mahindra and rejoined with Derrick at Pune FC in the same capacity of Assistant Coach, with long time Mahindra stalwart Arshad Hussain returning from Mumbai FC along with Henry Menezes, to assist David Booth, like he did during the Englishman’s earlier tenure at the Jeepmen.


Mahindra United 2009-2010 Senior Team Squad in full: 

Goalkeepers:
Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, Subhodeep Mukherjee, Monotosh Ghosh, Harshad Meher

Defenders:
Nisthar Kali Alaudeen, Ravanan Dharmaraj, Justine Stephen, Loukik Jadhav, Lamine Tamba, Debabrata Roy, Denzil Franco, Nikhil D’Souza, Ajit Bhoir

Midfielders:
N.P. Pradeep, Sushanth Mathew, K.N. Ajayan, Noel Fernandes, Bhola Prasad, Sukhwinder Singh, Steven Dias, Paresh Shivalkar, Djidjia Douhou Pierre, K. Aseem, Royston D’Souza, Shilton D’Silva

Forwards:
M. Mohammed Rafi, Surajit Bose, Sushil Kumar Singh, K. Thoi Singh, Subair Muritala Ali, Varin Mehta

Staff:
David Booth (Head Coach), Arshad Hussain (Assistant Coach), Dr. Sandeep Kurale (Physiotherapist), Kamal Das (Masseur/Kit-man)