Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) side Hyderabad FC have handed a one-year extension to experienced goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani, the club announced on Friday. The Goa-born custodian has penned a new deal till the end of the 2021-22 Hero ISL season.

“I have now spent two years with the club and I am really happy here. I know the club and the people involved pretty well and it was an easy decision for me to extend my time with Hyderabad FC,” said Kattimani, after putting pen to paper.

The experienced 31-year-old has been with Hyderabad FC right from their first season in the league in 2019-20 and became the first choice under the bar for Manuel Marquez in the recently concluded Hero ISL season.

“He is a very good keeper. He is not just good with his shot-stopping but is also very calm with his feet. He is confident playing out from the back and is a really good fit for our system,” said Marquez.

With 59 Hero ISL appearances to date, Kattimani was a crucial member of the Hyderabad FC squad that finished 5th in the league last season, and head coach Marquez believes that his experience will be key next season.

“We have a really young squad at Hyderabad FC and we need players with experience like Kattimani. He is an excellent keeper, a great person and is happy to help youngsters out in the team and we are happy to retain his services for another season,” added Marquez.

In the 2020-21 Hero ISL, Kattimani kept six clean sheets in 14 games, conceding less than a goal a game, and will now lend his experience to Hyderabad FC for another season.