2012–13 Pune FC season

Transfers

The 2011–12 I-League season ended on 6 May 2012 for Pune[1] but the business end of the 2012–13 season began three days later on 9 May with the announced departures of club captain and #1 goalkeeper for club and country Subrata Pal as well as central midfielder Baldeep Singh both to fellow I-League club Prayag United.[2][3] It was then announced on 27 May 2012 that midfielder Paresh Shivalkar left the club and signed for newly formed Dodsal Football Club who would begin play in the Mumbai Football League.[4]

Then on 5 June 2012 it was revealed that Pune top scorer for the last 2 seasons, Mandjou Keita, would be leaving the club to join reigning Malaysia Super League champions, Kelantan FA, on a free transfer.[5] The Pune departures did not stop however as only three days later on 8 June 2012 it was officially announced that the 21-year-old defender, Rollingson Hungyo, would be one of the first official signings of the season for Shillong Lajong.[6]

Then on 11 June 2012 it was officially announced that Pune had sold Indian international midfielder Lester Fernandez to Prayag United for ₹20 lakh in what is a notable event in Indian football history as this was the first ever transfer which involved money being given for a player instead of the usual free transfers.[7]

Pune then made their first two signings of the season on 23 June 2012 with the signing of India international defender Nallappan Mohanraj[8] and the even bigger signing of South Sudan international striker James Moga who scored 15 goals in the I-League in 2011–12 for Sporting Clube de Goa.[9] Pune went on to make two more signings afterwards with the signings of Vellington Rocha and Mumtaz Akhtar from Margao FC and United Sikkim respectively.[10][11] The club then signed the on-loan keeper from last season, Abhra Mondal, on a permanent deal from East Bengal on 11 July 2012.[12]

The club then dipped into the 2012 I-League U20 championship winning academy squad by signing U20 captain Suji Kumar and Kamardeep Singh to professional contracts on 15 July 2012.[13] The club then made their defense stronger on 30 July 2012 after they signed Zohmingliana Ralte from Shillong Lajong[14]

Pre-season schedule and friendlies

Pune began pre-season training with the full squad on 16 July 2012.[15] Seven of the players however began training with the club a week earlier due to injuries they had towards the end of last season. Those players were Amrinder Singh, John Benedick, Maninder Singh, Asim Hassan, Jeh Williamson, Kamardeep Singh, and Sukhwinder Singh.[15] Two of the 26-member squad did not join the club till early August. They were midfielder Pierre Djidjia Douhou and South Sudan international James Moga.[15] However defender Anas Edathodika, who is sidelined with malaria, is not decided how long he is out for.[15]

For the first-week of training the club focused on non-ball exercises and fitness.[15] The team was coached that week and supervised under fitness coaches Elton Menezes and Sridhar K.[15] The second week still focused on fitness but added the ball as well for three sessions.[15] On 3 August 2012 it was announced that the club would spend time in Goa in August and focus on technical and tactical aspects of the game and also play in a few friendlies.[15]

The club played their first pre-season match against DSK Shivajians in Pune. Pune FC drew the match 2–2 with Singam Subhash Singh and Chika Wali scoring.[16] The next game Pune took on the Pune F.C. Academy in which Pune FC won 2–1 with Subhash Singh scoring 2 goals.[17] Pune and Subhash continued their good form against Deccan XI in which Pune won 3–0 with goals from Subhash (his fourth in pre-season), Jeh Williamson and an Asian trialist.[18]

As of 12 May 2013.[19]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  IND Abhra Mondal 21 GK  IND Shahin Lal Meloly 30 GK  IND Amrinder Singh 2 DF  IND Othallo Tabia 3 DF  IND Caitano Costa 4 DF  NGA Chika Wali (captain) 5 DF  IND Gurjinder Kumar 13 DF  IND Zohmingliana Ralte 15 DF  IND Anas Edathodika 25 DF  IND Srikanth Ramu 27 DF  IND Nallappan Mohanraj 6 MF  IND Shanmugam Venkatesh 8 MF  IND Arata Izumi 11 MF  CIV Pierre Douhou

No. Pos. Nation Player 14 MF  IND Karma Tsewang 16 MF  IND Velington Rocha 17 MF  IND Sukhwinder Singh 18 MF  IND Asim Hassan 20 MF  IND Nikhil Kadam 22 MF  IND Khanthang Paite (on loan from East Bengal) 23 MF  IND Mumtaz Akhtar 26 MF  IND Fanai Lalrempuia 32 MF  IND David Lalbiakzara 9 FW  SSD James Moga 10 FW  IND Jeje Lalpekhlua 12 FW  IND Singam Subhash Singh 29 FW  AUS Boima Karpeh

12 May 2013