TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Dempo Sports Club has landed a sucker punch to its opposing I-League clubs by announcing the signing of India U-19 striker Uttam Rai at its headquarters on Friday.
Rai is one of the top prospects in India football and is currently with the AIFF U-19 Elite Academy in Goa. He chose the 5 time I-League champions after being courted by most of the top ranked clubs in country.
Rai has recently returned from an impressive stint with English Championship side Reading Football Club, where in he scored 4 goals for Reading FC’s development during a series of friendly matches. Prior to his time in England, Rai spent 6 months with the Colorado Rush Academy in the USA and also trained with MLS side, Chicago Fire.
A product of the Namchi Football Academy in Sikkim, Rai trained at the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Florida between 2010 and 2012.
After signing for Dempo SC, Rai was quoted as saying, “I am very happy that I’ve signed my first professional contract with one of the most successful clubs in India. Playing for Dempo SC is a dream come true and I’m looking forward to developing my game under the guidance of Arthur Papas. I’m ready to contribute to the club in any way that I can.”
Dempo SC head coach Arthur Papas said “We are excited that Uttam is joining our club. He is one of the most promising young players in India at the moment and we feel he still has much development to occur. We are working towards building a squad in which one of the objectives is to have the cream of the top talents within India as part of the first team squad and Uttam fits into that category perfectly.”
FIFA Licensed Agent and Libero Sports Partner Arvind Narayan, who represents Uttam Rai, said “We are looking forward to Uttam’s rise and development and we are confident that he is at the right club at Dempo SC and under the right coach with Papas. This will be the perfect platform for Uttam to hone his skills and become a better player.”
