PANAJI: Highly-rated centre-back Anwar Ali has become FC Goa’s fourth new signing of the season after the defender officially became a Gaur today in a move from Delhi FC. He has been practicing with the team since the beginning of the season.
The 21-year-old former India youth international has put pen to paper on a contract with FC Goa after the AIFF cleared the talented youngster to resume his career in August earlier this year, says a press release.
Speaking after signing on the dotted lines, Anwar said: “I am just happy that the worst part of my life is now over. This is a new chapter in my life and I want to welcome the opportunity to play football. It has been a long wait to get onto the field at the highest level.
“I would like to thank FC Goa at this moment for having faith in me. I have been with the team since the beginning of the season and that has helped me understand the way we play the game.
“I was ecstatic when I got to know I was going to FC Goa. I didn’t know about it till around three days before I had to pack my bags. There is a certain excitement in the air, which I can’t put into words.”
Speaking on the signing, FC Goa’s Director of Football, Ravi Puskur said: “We’re very happy to bring Anwar into the fold at FC Goa. He’s clearly one of the finest players of his generation and that has all the more apparent ever since we’ve had a closer look at him for the past month and a half, while he’s been training with us.
“His time out of the game is well documented but he’s a resilient young man and I’m sure he’ll display his skill and talent once he sets foot on the field and I’m thankful to his parent club that they have trusted us to continue his development.”
Ali started his career with Minerva Punjab and then went on to play for the India U-17 team in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. After good performances, the youngster was loaned to Indian Arrows for the 2017/18 season before signing with Mumbai City FC. Another loan to the Indian Arrows followed the following season.
Ali was barred from playing competitive football by the AIFF in 2019 after he was diagnosed with a rare heart condition called Apical Hypercardiomyopathy (HCM).
