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The end of the Indian Super League draft on Sunday afternoon marked the start of mission squad strengthening of Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan, who until now have signed seven players who did not get signed in the ISL draft.
Mohun Bagan have put pen to paper with Abhishek Das, Debabrata Roy, Gurjinder Kumar, Denson Devadas, Shilton D’Silva, Israil Gurung and Nikhil Kadam; while they are said to be in talks with Goan duo Denzil Franco and Beevan D’Mello about joining them.
The Mariner have been preparing for the Calcutta Football League since earlier this month, but their squad only had top level experience in Shilton Paul and Kingshuk Debnath with many youngsters signed or on trial, but that scenario changed over the last 30 hours with Mohun Bagan reinforcing their squad by signing a mix of defenders and midfielders.
And the first couple of players in Abhishek Das and Denson Devadas also attended the training session today.
That dependable right back Abhishek Das was not signed in the draft was a surprise. Now the 23 year old former Tata Football Academy cadet returns to Mohun Bagan for a second stint. He earlier player for archrivals East Bengal, Pailan Arrows, United Sikkim FC, Chennaiyin FC and Chennai City FC.
Former club captain Denson Devadas returns. The 34 year old midfielder in his career played for Viva Kerala, Chirag United, Chennaiyin FC, FC Goa, Sporting Clube de Goa, Delhi Dynamos and Chennai City FC.
Former Indian international full back Debabrata Roy, also a TFA cadet, joins Mohun Bagan for the first time. He played for Mahindra United and East Bengal before spending many years at Dempo SC, then playing for FC Goa and Chennai City FC.
26 year old Gurjinder Kumar is another former Indian international full back, who comes to Kolkata for the first time. He is also a TFA cadet, who played for Pune FC, Salgaocar FC, FC Pune City and Minerva Punjab FC.
24 year old Shilton Sydney D’Silva is another former India junior and senior international, who played for Mahindra United at youth level before joining the Pailan Arrows. After a long injury layoff he joined Bengaluru FC, but only got playing time once back in his home town with Mumbai FC.
28 year old winger Israil Gurung has also played for many clubs in his career, which started off properly at Hindustan FC and then he went on to play for Sporting Clube de Goa, Sesa Football Academy, Churchill Brothers SC, Mohammedan Sporting, FC Pune City and DSK Shivajians FC.
Winger Nikhil Kadam from Kolhapur is a product of the Pune FC Academy, where he also made his professional debut. After their closure he played for DSK Shivajians FC and Mumbai FC.
