MARGAO
I-League 2nd Division outfit FC Bengaluru United have signed Goan left winger Nicholas Fernandes ahead of the 2020-21 season.
The winger began his football career as a youth player at Vasco Sports Club Under-16 team where he played under the current coach of FC Bengaluru United, Richard Hood.
Nicholas will be part of Hood’s squad that will participate in the five-team I-League qualifiers that will be held in West Bengal in October.
“I am excited to play for FC Bengaluru United. It’s a good challenge and I hope that my experience helps the team to become the champions and qualify for the I-League,” Nicholas said. “We are really working hard on our fitness and the team is shaping up well. I think FC Bengaluru United will be the best team in the qualifiers.”
Nicholas joined Churchill Brothers in 2014 and has played for the club for the major part of his senior career. He represented the Red Machines in Under-18 Youth League and was promoted to the senior team in the 2015-16 season, and played in the Goa Professional League and was the highest scorer in the Goa Police Cup.
After his exploits at Churchill Brothers, Sporting Clube de Goa recognised his abilities and signed him on loan from the Red Machines. Fernandes was a regular starter for the club in the I-League. He scored twice in his 14 appearances for the Flaming Oranje and scored the fastest goal in 16 seconds in the I-League against Aizawl FC at home.
The 28-year-old returned to Churchill for another tint from 2016 to 2019 before moving to Gokulam Kerala FC, where he played only two matches in the 2019-20 I-League season.
