MARGAO
FC Pune City have roped in attacking midfielder Sanju Pradhan and defender Rahul Bheke for the third edition of the Indian Super League. Both players are currently playing for East Bengal in the I-League.
Sanju donned the colours of NorthEast United FC last season, where he was effectively used by coach Cesar Farias as a second half substitute. In the first edition of the league, he plied his trade for the inaugural champions Aletico de Kolkata under the tutelage of Antonio Habas, who will be coaching FC Pune City next season.
Former Mumbai FC defender Bheke, who played 11 matches for Kerala Blasters as a right back, will join the orange and purple brigade after his stint with East Bengal in the ongoing I-League. Meanwhile, Pune City are close to sealing a deal with Apoula Edel. The Armenian, who represented the likes of Chennaiyin FC and Atletico de Kolkata in the first two editions of the ISL and helped them emerge champions, will represent Pune next season.
It was Edel's fantastic performance in the finals of the ISL season one which helped Atletico clinch the title while for Chennaiyin FC, he continued his heroics and was amongst their standout performers. In 13 matches last season, he only conceded 13 goals and kept six clean sheets for the Blues of Chennai. However, Edel is currently without a club and hasn't played competitively since the end of the ISL season two. At Pune, Edel will reunite with former coach Antonio Habas who coached him at Atletico back in the 2014-15 season.
