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Promoted Indian Super League side Punjab FC have announced the signing of four Indian players ahead of their ISL-10 debut.
The four players are goalkeeper Shibinraj Kunnaiyil, defenders Nongmaikapam Suresh Meitei and Mashoor Shereef, and midfielder Sweden Fernandes.
30 year old Shibin Raj Kunniyil started his football career with SAI Kerala in Thiruvanthapuram from 2005 to 2010 and through playing for his district he also got a chance to play for the Kerala U-19s in the Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy. From there he got selected to be a part of the India U-19 set-up.
In 2011, Shibin Raj Kunniyil signed for the Indian Air Force. He stayed with IAF for a number of years and took the plunge of playing for a professional team by signing for Mohun Bagan.
Shibin Raj Kunniyil returned to Kerala for the 2018/19 I-League to play for Gokulam Kerala FC before making a big move to ISL side Kerala Blasters, but he didn’t get much playing time.
Shibin Raj Kunniyil returned to the I-League to play for Churchill Brothers before going on to play for Sreenidi Deccan FC and Gokulam Kerala FC.
30 year old Malappuram-born Mashoor Shereef Thangalakath played locally in his home state of Kerala. Thereafter Mashoor Shereef made his professional debut for Chennai City FC in 2017 and spend three seasons with the I-League club.
Mashoor Shereef in 2020 then joined NorthEast United FC and established himself within the Highlanders squad.
29 year old Nongmeikapam Suresh Meitei, who was born in Manipur, played locally in his youth.
Suresh Meitei played for the Army Red Football Team and the Services side in the Santosh Trophy before he was scouted by Churchill Brothers at the 2019 Durand Cup. Since then, Suresh Meitei has impressed across three seasons of the I-League for the Red Machines, but in-between has continued to play for Army Red.
Last season, Suresh Meitei joined RoundGlass Punjab FC and won the I-League title.
Now he returns to the club ahead of their ISL debut.
23 year old Sweden Fernandes, who was born in Quepem in Goa, played in his youth for Sporting Clube de Goa, Dempo SC and FC Goa.
Sweden Fernandes made it at the Gaurs until the FC Goa Developmental Team before being earning a move to Hyderabad FC in September 2020.
Without making any apperances in the ISL, Sweden Fernandes in summer 2021 moved on loan to NEROCA FC and impressed for the Manipuri side in the 2021/22 I-League.
In summer 2022, Sweden Fernandes returned to Hyderabad FC and made three appearances for them in the Durand Cup but did not feature for them in the ISL. Sweden Fernandes then returned for a second loan spell to NEROCA FC.
This summer, Sweden Fernandes got transferred to Chennaiyin FC and has now moved to Punjab FC.
