Kunal Sawant

Kunal Sawant (born 23 August 1986) is an Indian football goalkeeper playing in the I-League for Kenkre FC.

Kunal Sawant
Personal information
Full name Kunal Shantaram Sawant
Date of birth (1986-08-23) 23 August 1986
Place of birth Mumbai, India
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Kenkre FC
Number 30
Youth career
2002–2003 Goan Sports Club
2003–2004 Mahindra United
2004–2005 New India Assurance
2005–2007 Union Bank of India
2007–2009 Central Railway
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Air India 15 (0)
2012–2016 Mumbai 31 (0)
2015 → Laxmi Prasad (loan) 0 (0)
2016 → Kerala Blasters (loan) 0 (0)
2017–2020 Mumbai City
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

Kunal Sawant was born in Mumbai and completed his schooling at Don Bosco High School, Borivali. He was well-known for his love of sports; he was a keeper (goalkeeper / wicketkeeper) for the school's cricket, football, and hockey teams.

Kunal Sawant Saving a shot

Amateur league

Soon after schooling, Sawant was selected for Goans Sports Club (a local club in Mumbai, playing in the First Division) and played with them from 2002 until 2003. He was later selected to play with Mahindra United U-19 team and had a brief stint of exposure to play at the Indian National Football League. From 2004 until 2009, Sawant played for New India Assurance (Super division), Dena Bank (Super division), Union Bank of India (Elite division) and Central Railway (Elite Division).

Kunal Sawant throwing out a ball

Professional league

In 2009, Bimal Ghosh initiated Sawant into India's professional football circle, to play for Air India’s football team. Two years later, on Thursday, 3 February 2011, Sawant found himself at the cusp of an end to his career owing to an on-field injury during a match against Salgaocar F.C. while playing in an I-League match. Medical professionals advised Sawant that his hand would recover gradually, but his career never would.

However, Sawant made a comeback on 28 October 2012 with Mumbai F.C. in the I-League. Sawant also represented Maharashtra in Santosh Trophy tournament in 2009, 2010 and 2012. During 2015 I-League season hiatus, 4 Mumbai F.C. players - Climax Lawrence (Former India Captain), Nicholas Rodrigues, Valerian Rebello and Sawant, were invited to play for Tuff Laxmi Prasad Sports Club on a short-term contract in the Goa Professional League.[1]

Indian Super League (ISL)

In June 2016, Sawant signed a contract with Sachin Tendulkar's Kerala Blasters FC to be the team's goalkeeper for the 2016 Indian Super League.[2] Kerala Blasters FC finished the tournament by securing the second position.

Presently, Sawant is playing for Mumbai City FC.

References
  1. "Tuff grab four Mumbai FC players | Goa News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  2. "Indian Super League - Kerala Blasters sign Mumbai FC trio - Goal.com". Archived from the original on 16 June 2016.
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