Long-time Indian international Potsangbam Renedy Singh has signed for Bulgarian giants and league leaders CSKA Sofia for the rest of the 2014/15 season on loan from his Indian Super League team Kerala Blasters FC.
The 35 year old from Manipur arrived in Sofia on Wednesday and signed all necessary documents earlier today to become a CSKA Sofia player with an aim not only to be part of the clubs first team, but also learn from club coach Stoycho Mladenov to prepare himself for his future as a coach after his playings are over.
About signing for CSKA Sofia, Renedy Singh said, “I am very happy to be here and sign for CSKA Sofia! It is a big club with a lot of history and pedigree.”
“Back home in India people will mainly know Bulgarian legend Hristo Stoichkov for his time at FC Barcelona. He is a former CSKA player and coach or former EPL players Stiliyan Petrov and Martin Petrov, also players who have played here.”
“But also take club coach Stoycho Mladenov, who is a CSKA legend and someone with a lot of experience as a player and coach not only here in Bulgaria but also for his years in Portugal. This gives me a chance to work and learn from him,” Renedy added.
Renedy has become the first-ever Indian footballer to sign in Bulgaria as CSKA Sofia welcome the midfielder to their fold. CSKA at this stage isn’t looking at any marketing or commercial activities, but are open to having a bigger connect with Indian football, be it through players coming to the club and/or their Academy, exchange programmes and helping with youth development in India.
On the reasons of signing in Bulgaria, Renedy said, “After the end of the Indian Super League, I wanted an opportunity to play and also learn the nuances of coaching. This is being made possible by coach Stoycho Mladenov and the club, whom I would like to thank for this great opportunity! Also a big thank you to Football & Friends, Rui Gomes, Nuno Mousinho Esteves and Arunava Chaudhuri, who made this exposure in Europe possible for me.”
Ater signing the official papers at the club office in the morning, a fit Renedy had his first training session with the CSKA Sofia first team on a sunny afternoon. First the coach Mladenov introduced him to his new team mates and then Renedy was part of the team training.
EXCLUSIVE PICTURES of Renedy Singh’s first day at CSKA Sofia:
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More about Renedy’s stay in Sofia in the coming days.
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