Bengaluru signs former ATK Mohun Bagan full-back Prabir Das
Bengaluru has signed full-back Prabir Das to increase the quality and numbers in defense after releasing the trio of Sarthak Golui, Pratik Chaudhari, and Ashique Kuruniyan ahead of the 2022-23 Indian Super League season.
The 28-year old full-back is delighted with the move and has signed a three-year deal with the Blues that lasts till the end of the 2024-25 ISL season.
He said,
“I am very happy at having signed for Bengaluru because this is a football club that I have admired for a while now. I have played at the Kanteerava and the atmosphere is always high-energy, and I am waiting to experience it while wearing the Bengaluru shirt.”
The new Blues defender is aware of the amazing atmosphere during ISL matches in Bengaluru and has promised the fans to bring success and trophies back to the club.
He continued,
“I am eager to play a big part in bringing back the success that this club is used to and I am grateful to the owners and management for showing faith in me, and for wanting me to be a part of their ambitions.”
After playing more than 1000 minutes in both 2019-20 and 2020-21 ISL seasons, the 2021-22 season brought about a downturn in the playing time as the former ATK Mohun Bagan full-back could only manage 793 minutes of action including both semi-finals against eventual winners Hyderabad.
Das would be rivalling the likes of Naorem Roshan Singh and Parag Shrivas for a starting spot in the playing XI and the experienced campaigner is expected to usurp either of the duo after battling with the likes of Pritam Kotal and Ashutosh Mehta for playing time with the Mariners.
The defender started his career with Indian Arrows and Dempo was impressed enough to sign the defender but a couple of unsuccessful loan spells at Goa and Delhi Dynamos proved harmful for the stock of the full-back. Then, Das moved to I-League giants Mohun Bagan and rediscovered himself as an attacking threat making 26 appearances for the Mariners.
Prabir Das spent seven years in Kolkata shuffling between three sides
Following a successful loan spell with the erstwhile ATK, the full-back moved to the ISL side and went on to make 46 appearances in total for the 3-time ISL champions before the merger of the two Kolkata giants. In the title-winning 2019-20 ISL season, Das provided 5 assists in total and clocked more than 1700 minutes on the field to help the Kolkata-based side lift the trophy.
Bengaluru moved fast to secure his signature after trimming their Indian contingent of players by releasing the likes of Kuruniyan, Golui, and Chaudhari as they prepare for an important 2022-23 ISL season.
The adventurous left-back was released by the Blues on the same day as the Indian international is being linked with the Mariners who are looking to strengthen their squad after cutting a string of players including Roy Krishna, David Williams, and Das from their squad.
BFC Director Parth Jindal pointed out the importance of the defender on the right side of the field but the versatility of the full-back will be a major asset for the new manager Simon Grayson.
He said,
“Prabir is a player we had set our sights on for some time now, and we’re happy to have him commit his future to Bengaluru. Having a plethora of talent on the left, what the team needed was strengthening on the right. With Prabir and his experience, BFC has found a trusted and able player who makes us stronger.”
Jindal is excited to assemble the new-look squad under a new manager as he vowed to bring the days of glory back at the club ahead of the new season.He concluded,
“We are confident we can give Prabir the platform to excel and get back to the national team while helping Bengaluru achieve its goal of getting back to where we belong – right at the top.”