CARLES CUADRAT
Good evening, everyone, The build up to the season was
A well-deserved break soon
turned into a frustrating wait, and
all I will say at this moment is
that we are delighted to be back
on a football pitch, at home and
with all of you in blue around us. I
wouldn’t be wrong in assuming
that you feel the same way.
The team assembled in Bangalore
close to two months ago and we
split our pre-season preparations
between the city and our fantastic
facility in Bellary. We managed to
get in a few games against teams
like Churchill, Gokulam and
Minerva who are also preparing
for the start of their season. We
even had strong opposition in our
B team who are improving on all
fronts with every passing session.
Needless to say, the fixtures were
competitive and allowed us to try
out new systems and players.
Today, we begin the another
Indian Super League campaign,
against NorthEast United – a
team that gave a good account of
themselves last season. They
have a new coach, and a new
squad and will be eager to prove a
point. We will have to.
We made as many as six additions
to our squad this season, and I
am happy with the way and the
pace the new boys have adapted
to our style of play. We will also
be playing the AFC Cup soon and
everyone will have a role to play
through the season. We have set
standards of consistency and we
hope to replicate it yet again. The
dressing room apart, I have by my
side, a new assistant in Oriol
Lozano and I am certain that we
will benefit from his experience in
Spain, Greece and Georgia.
dominated by the news of us
having to play our home games in
another city.
But credit to the management
and the backroom staff who toiled
hard to make sure we begin our
season at the Fortress today. We
have done our bit to ensure that
we play in the city, now the onus
to turn out in big numbers and
support your team, is upon you.
And I am sure that you will
deliver, like always.
I would like to extend a warm
welcome to Robert Jarni and his
staff to Bengaluru. Like I said,
NorthEast will be a tough
opponent to start our season
with, but we will be leaving
everything on the pitch. Together,
let’s make this yet another season
to remember!
Love,
Carles
I’m also very glad to let all
of you know that this
season, we will be playing
not only for points, but
also to aid the planet. As a
club, we’ve always been
about doing things right.
The team has had a
sit-down, and the boys
have pledged to do their
bit. We want the fans to
reciprocate and help us
do things that help the
community, and there’s no
bigger community that
the planet itself.
BFC CARES

We’re certain you’re
wondering what we’re trying
to get at with the cover of
this matchday programme.
It should have been
something to do with three
stars, maybe? The Fortress?
Chhetri and Carles leading
the battalion out?
But what good is it if we play
only for trophies,for Freddie
Mercury to croon ‘we are
the champions’ on boom
boxes, for open-top bus
parades and chapters
extolling our conquests in
football history? This team
will play for everything on
also speak about climate
change, carbon footprints,
conserving water and why
we must recycle.This team
will now speak FOR THE
PLANET.
There won’t be any tall
claims,signed agreements
or activities that tick boxes.
Instead, we will genuinely
attempt to do everyday
things correctly, no matter
how little they are. If you
know a cause we should
stand up for, tell us about it.
If you think we could do
something better in our
endeavour to give back to
single use plastic
bottlesthat we’ve always
had. Our merchandise
counter will now be
plastic-free – paper bags
only. As the season
progresses, we will only
keep adding to our efforts.
We will collaborate with
people and organisations
who are treading on the
same path, and we will be
the reason for change.
This season, and every
season after, Bengaluru FC
will play FOR THE PLANET.
BENGALURU FC v NORTHEAST UNITED
OCTOBER 21, 2019 I VOL. I

that list, but more the planet, we’re all ears.

importantly, this team will
now play FOR THE PLANET.
Confetti gives us joy.
Conservation? Purpose.
We’ll speak about nights at
the Fortress, Chhetri’s
audacity with panenkas,
stoppage-time winners and
Asian adventures. But we’ll
We will walk the talk and
like always, will ask you to
march with us on this.
In what is a start, this
matchday programme
you’re holding is made from
recycled paper. The boys on
the pitch and the bench will
attempt to use reusable
bottles, as opposed to the
PREVIEW

The Blues begin the season against a side they last met in the semfinal
of the 2018-19 season. The visitors will look at the fixture as the
perfect chance to begin their redemption, but Bengaluru at the LAST
Fortress are a different team altogether. We take a look at a few key MEETING
points that this game could revolve around… BEN 3 - 0 NEU
March 11, 2019
OLD FOES, NEW LOOK ISL Semifinal
The Highlanders had their best run in the ISL when they made the Second Leg
semifinal before bowing out to the Blues last season, and while they
have managed to retain a few players from that squad, it’s the changes
they have made that are more significant. NorthEast have roped in
former World Cupper and Croatian, Robert Jarni to replace Eelco
NEU KEY
Schattorie who now holds the reins at Kerala Blasters. Jarni has SIGNINGS
signed as many as four new foreign players, with Ghana star Asamoah Asamoah Gyan
Gyan being the pick of the lot that includes Martín Cháves, Kai Forward
Heerings, and Maximiliano Barreiro. Maximiliano
Barreiro
OPTIONS, ALL OVER Forward
The Blues, who have had six additions to the squad this summer, leave
Carles Cuadrat with the kind of problems that delight managers. The Martín Cháves
boss tried a series of combinations during pre-season friendlies and Forward
it’s safe to say that the squad this season offers more depth than the Kai Heerings
one gone by. Raphael, Eugene, Wangjam, Ashique and Manu – all lend Centre-back
Cuadrat a host of possibilities in the middle and up front, and it will be
interesting to see what shape he chooses to go with. Milan Singh
Midfielder
FLAWLESS AT HOME
While it is the start of a brand new season, the Blues will draw Subhasish Roy
confidence from their 100% win record over NorthEast United at the Chowdhury
Kanteerava. In fact, the Blues were never vanquished at the Fortress Goalkeeper
all of last season, and Cuadrat would like to get an attempt to an Wayne Vaz
encore, to the perfect start. Centre-back
BENGALURU FC SQUAD

GURPREET SINGH PRABHSUKHAN ADITYA

SANDHU SINGH GILL PATRA
Position Goalkeeper Position Goalkeeper Position Goalkeeper
Date of birth 3 Feb 1992 Date of birth 2 Jan 2001 Date of birth 26 Apr 2000
Nationality Indian Nationality Indian Nationality Indian
Joined on Aug 2017 Joined on May 2019 Joined on June 2017

ALBERT SAIRUAT JUAN

SERRAN KIMA GONZALEZ
Position Defender Position Defender Position Defender
Date of birth 17 Jul 1984 Date of birth 7 Dec 1997 Date of birth 27 Apr 1987
Nationality Spanish Nationality Indian Nationality Spanish
Joined on Aug 2018 Joined on June 2018 Joined on Aug 2016

HARMANJOT RINO NISHU

KHABRA ANTO KUMAR
Position Defender Position Defender Position Defender
Date of birth 18 Dec 1988 Date of birth 3 Jan 1988 Date of birth 5 Nov 1997
Nationality Indian Nationality Indian Nationality Indian
Joined on Jan 2017 Joined on July 2013 Joined on Nov 2015

PARAG
SHRIVAS
Position Defender
Date of birth 9 Jun 1997
Nationality Indian
Joined on June 2017
RAHUL BHEKE A versatile defender,
Position Defender Bheke was the Blues’
Date of birth 6 Dec 1990 second pick at the Indian
Nationality Indian Super League draft of
Joined on July 2017 2017. Capable of playing
in all four defensive
From being left out at the positions, Bheke was
Indian Super League named the Players’
draft three years ago to Player of the Season in
scoring the winner in the his second season with
final at his hometown, the Blues and was soon
life really did come full called to join the national
circle for Rahul Bheke. team by Igor Štimac.
EUGENESON LYNGDOH KEAN
Position Midfielder LEWIS
Date of birth 10 Sep 1986 Position Midfielder
Nationality Indian Date of birth 19 Sep 1992
Joined on June 2014, Nationality Indian
June 2019 Joined on June 2018
BENGALURU FC SQUAD
GURSIMRAT SINGH GILL
Position Defender
Date of birth 11 Feb 1997
Nationality Indian
Joined on Aug 2016,
June 2018
ERIK
PAARTALU
Position Midfielder
Date of birth 3 May 1986
Nationality Australian
Joined on July 2017
RAPHAEL
AUGUSTO
Position Midfielder
Date of birth 6 Mar 1991
Nationality Brazilian
Joined on Aug 2019
BENGALURU FC SQUAD

DIMAS ASHIQUE AJAY

DELGADO KURUNIYAN CHHETRI
Position Midfielder Position Midfielder Position Midfielder
Date of birth 6 Feb 1983 Date of birth 14 Jun 1997 Date of birth 7 Jun 1999
Nationality Spanish Nationality Indian Nationality Indian
Joined on July 2017 Joined on Aug 2019 Joined on July 2016

SURESH SINGH MANUEL SUNIL

WANGJAM ONWU CHHETRI
Position Midfielder Position Forward Position Forward
Date of birth 7 Aug 2000 Date of birth 11 Jan 1988 Date of birth 3 Aug 1984
Nationality Indian Nationality Spanish Nationality Indian
Joined on May 2019 Joined on July 2019 Joined on July 2013

THONGKOSIEM UDANTA EDMUND

HAOKIP SINGH LALRINDIKA
Position Forward Position Forward Position Forward
Date of birth 13 Mar 1993 Date of birth 14 Jun 1996 Date of birth 24 Apr 1999
Nationality Indian Nationality Indian Nationality Indian
Joined on July 2017 Joined on April 2014 Joined on June 2018
 NORTHEAST UNITED FC SQUAD

PAWAN KUMAR

WAYNE VAZ

ASAMOAH GYAN

MAXIMILIANO BARREIRO
PROVAT LAKRA Position Midfielder I Nationality Argentine

PAWAN KUMAR MISLAV KOMORSKI

JOSE LEUDO SORAM POIREI

K. NINTHOINGANBA MEETEI PANAGIOTIS TRIADIS

MILAN SINGH REDEEM TLANG

MARTIN CHAVES NIKHIL KADAM

REAGAN SINGH SHOUVIK GHOSH

LALREMPUIA FANAI NIM DORJEE

HEERINGS KAI ALFRED LALRUOTSANG

Nickname The Highlanders LALTHATHANGA KHAWLHRING

Founded 13 April 2014
Ground Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium
RAKESH PRADHAN
Manager Robert Jarni
Last Season Semifinalists
Crest NorthEast United FC’s badge LALENGMAWIA
features eight stars at the top, one for
each state in the Northeast Indian
region, where the club hails from. SUBHASISH ROY
 STATS

FORMER PLAYERS
AT BEN
Gursimrat Singh

AT NEU
Pawan Kumar,
Soram Poirei

CHHETRI, MIKU
AND CHENCHO,
FROM BEN AND EXPERIENCE MATTERS
GALLEGO FROM

6
GAMES
10 NEU ARE
CURRENTLY
TOP SCORERS IN
THIS FIXTURE,
WITH TWO
GOALS EACH

2
5
4W 1D 1W Robert Jarni, the NorthEast
United coach has played at
numerous clubs and in top
flights in Croatia, Italy, Spain,
and Greece apart from playing
TOTAL NUMBER OF NATIONALITIES REPRESENTED BY
at three World Cups.
PLAYERS ON BOTH SIDES

A total of 15 goals have been

scored by both sides in this
fixture, with 11 of those
coming in the second half.
THE BLUES HAVE
WON ALL THREE
GAMES PLAYED AT SEAMLESS
For the second successive
THE FORTRESS season, the Blues begin their
AGAINST THE campaign at home, against the
HIGHLANDERS same team against who they
played their last game at the
Fortress in the previous
season. (2018-19 vs CHE,
2019-20 vs NEU)
FLASHBACK

At full time against

NorthEast United at the We Picked Out Three Of
Indira Gandhi Athletic
Stadium, Lalthuammawia The Best Encounters
Ralte pointed his hands to
the heavens. His Between The Two Sides
performance between the
sticks saw the Blues
protect their slender lead
And Who Better Than Our
and come back with the
three points.
Players Who Have Been
Part Of Those Games,
To Relive Them…

MAWIA MAGIC
NorthEast United vs
Bengaluru FC
December 8, 2018
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
It’s funny I should be
looking back at this game
because I wasn’t even a part
of it! I’d received a red card
in Goa, which meant I’d
miss the trip to the hills and
in the days that the team
was away, I had gone to
Mumbai to pick up my new
car. I remember driving
back to Bengaluru with one
eye on my watch the whole
way. I barely made a stop on
the 16-hour journey and
made it just in time for
kick-off, and I’m so glad I
didn’t miss a minute of
that game.
As a goalkeeper it is always
important to have a partner
between the sticks who
pushes you through the
season and Mawia was one
of the best I’ve played with
in that regard. He came
back from injury to play in
that game and I remember
how well he guarded the
posts all the way through.
He’s not the most vocal of
boys off the pitch, but on it,
he’s always shouting and
getting his defence in order.
He made more than a few
point-blank saves, even in
the dying minutes, to keep
our clean sheet and
lead intact.
Miku’s goal was enough to
push us past the finish line,
and it was a neat finish after
some good pressing high up
on the field but I’ll always
remember that game for
the way we defended as a
team and for Mawia’s
performance in goal; it
really was something else.
DOWN, NOT OUT
NorthEast United vs
Bengaluru FC
Semifinal Leg I
March 3, 2019
Harmanjot Khabra
When people ask me what
position I play, the first thing
that comes to my mind is
‘wherever the coach wants
me to play’. I remember
very clearly that game
against NorthEast United, I
had started in midfield and
FLASHBACK
Bheke had gone into the
right-back position. When
you’re in midfield, you don’t
have a touchline to help you.
It’s not an easy job. The
coach had given me a
specific set of instructions
to follow and we knew from
past experience that
NorthEast United were no
pushovers.
NorthEast had started with
Jose Leudo and Rowllin
Borges in midfield, a duo
that had played together for
most of the season, while I
was partnering Alex Barrera
for the first time in my
career; you can imagine that
wasn’t easy. We could barely
get a foothold in the game
before Redeem Tlang found
the back of the net with a
curler. But, just like we did
all season, we kept
pushing forward.
I remember seeing Xisco
pull his bib off in the dugout.
That meant Carles was
going to put me at
right-back and try to push
more players into the box
with Xisco. I ran down to the
flank while Rahul took
FLASHBACK
Serran’s position. It worked
like magic because from
that moment, we got hold of
the game once again.
Everyone remembers how
that game ended. Xisco
scored the goal for us after
Chhetri bhai set him up, and
then I conceded the penalty
that they scored from. That
day is right up there among
my toughest in a locker
room, but the mood in the
camp was calm because we
took the tie home just a few
days later.
TURNAROUND
COMPLETE
Bengaluru FC vs
NorthEast United
Semifinal Leg II
March 11, 2019
Sunil Chhetri
Before I begin with my
recollection of the second
leg of last year’s semifinal, I
have to pull it back to the
boys in the dressing room in
Guwahati a week before.
Carles made it very clear
that nothing was lost, and
that we were going to play
in front of our fans where
‘anything was possible’. He
even went and spoke to
some of the supporters on
our way to the bus, and
assured them that we would
turn up together; and that’s
what we did.
We hadn’t come all this way
to fall more than a step
short of the final and that’s
the way I remember this
game. I remember the
atmosphere outside the
stadium when the bus rolled
in and when we walked out
for training. It was surreal. I
felt like the whole city had
turned up to fight with us.
We hadn’t lost a game at
home all season but on that
night, we knew we needed
an outright win to make
it through.
On his day, nine out of ten
shots that Miku takes hits
the back of the net, but
somehow that night things
weren’t going so well. He’d
scuffed an attempt from
close range and then
another had gone blazing
over the bar. Just when we
thought he’d have it lucky at
his third attempt, he created
He had no right! Dimas Delgado
sprinted 70 yards to get to the
end of an attack and finish past
this unforgiving tackle from
Redeem Tlang.
something out of nothing,
dribbling past the entire
backline before miscuing
his shot.
At half-time, Carles came
into the dressing room and
asked us to remain calm,
and told us that more
chances would come. He
said that the fans believed
in us and that we needed to
believe in ourselves. It took
a while still, but when the
rub of the green went in our
favour, we managed to score
three goals in 20 minutes.
Miku had to be the first, and
he scored what was
probably the toughest
chance that came his way
that day. I still don’t know
how he flashed the ball into
the far corner with a flick of
the outside of his left foot.
Then Dimas, who had no
business running 70 yards
in the 87th minute, did just
that and finished a move
that had started in our own
penalty area.
Even at 2-0, nothing was a
given because a goal from
NorthEast would mean
extra-time, so it was
satisfying to get my name
on the scoresheet in the
dying minutes. I enjoyed
that goal and that game,
and if not for everything that
the final brought with it, I’d
choose that game for my
favourite from last season.
NEW FACES
The Blues made as many as six signings this summer and
we’re using this space to introduce every one of them.
31 Prabhsukhan
SinghGill
The younger brother of
defender Gursimrat Singh
Gill, Prabhsukhan joins the
Blues after strong
performances for the Indian
Arrows in the I-League.
Starting out with the AIFF
Elite Academy,
Prabhsukhan made the cut
to the Indian National
Football Team at the FIFA
U17 World Cup, in 2017.
Following the World Cup,
Prabhsukhan was drafted
into the India U20 team to
be a part of the 2018 AFC
U19 Championship
qualifiers. The young
custodian has vowed to
push himself in the
Bengaluru squad, fighting
for a place with fellow
youngster Aditya Patra and
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
27 Suresh
Wangjam
Another graduate of the
AIFF Elite Academy, Suresh
Wangjam began his career
with the Bir Chandra
Memorial Sports Club in
Manipur, was selected to
represent the India U14s in
2014 and was also a part of
the national team that took
part in the FIFA U17 World
Cup in 2017. Before joining
the Blues, 18-year-old
Wangjam spent two years
alongside Prabhsukhan in
the Indian Arrows setup. A
midfielder who adds steel to
Cuadrat's squad, Wangjam
represented the Bengaluru
FC B side in their Durand
Cup campaign of 2019,
scoring three times from
the spot to finish the
tournament as the Blues'
top-scorer.
12 Raphael
Augusto
A two-time winner of the
Indian Super League,
Raphael Augusto will find it
easy to blend into the Blues'
dressing room. Born in Rio
de Janeiro in Brazil,
Augusto came through the
youth ranks of Fluminense
and the Brazilian outfit
remained his parent club for
over ten years, where a
string of loan spells saw
him play at various clubs in
USA and Poland. A strong

and imposing presence in
midfield, with his hold-up
play and close control,
Augusto won the Indian
Super League in 2015 and
2018 with Chennaiyin FC,
scoring against Bengaluru
in the latter final at the
Fortress. Having signed with
the Blues on a two-year
deal, the Brazilian will look
to add some samba to the
Bengaluru attack, joining
forces with Erik Paartalu,
Dimas Delgado and
Eugeneson Lyngdoh
in midfield.
7 Eugeneson
Lyngdoh
Eugeneson Lyngdoh is no
stranger to Bengaluru. His
tryst with the city began a
long time ago when he
turned out for the Bishop
Cottons' Boys School in the
Baldwin Shield. After stints
with Shillong Lajong and
Rangdajied United, the
midfielder joined the Blues
in 2014. In his first season
at the club, he scored 9
goals and assisted 16 more
as he claimed the
I-League's midfielder of the
season award and also the
AIFF Player of the Year
award. He was also named
the Fans' and Players'
Player of the Year at the
annual awards night before
being signed by FC Pune
City at the inaugural Indian
Super League auction.
Later, after guiding the
Blues to the AFC Cup final
of 2016 and the Federation
Cup victory in 2017, Lyngdoh
joined ATK. Now back in the
city where his footballing
journey began, Lyngdoh is
keen to make his second
coming count.
19 Ashique
Kuruniyan
From the sugarcane fields
of Malappuram to the Blues'
dressing room, Ashique
Kuruniyan's story is one of
grit and determination.
Going through the ranks in
his district and state teams,
Ashique turned out for Pune
FC in the U19 I-League
before moving to the FC
Pune City academy in 2016.
A loan deal saw the
youngster fly to Spain where
he represented La Liga
giants Villarreal CF's
reserve team before making
his India U19 bow. Among
India's rising young stars,
Ashique made his Senior
National Team debut at the
AFC Asian Cup in 2019 and
formed a lethal partnership
with Sunil Chhetri and
Udanta Singh up front.
NEW FACES
Having signed with the
Blues, he will now hope that
the chemistry is forged at
club level.
9 Manuel Onwu
Born in Tudela, Manuel had
youth spells with Club
Atlético Valtierrano and CD
Tudelano, making his senior
debut with the latter in
2006. In 2007, Onwu signed
with Osasuna B and had
loan spells at CD Iruña and
UD Alzira before returning
to the reserves of the La
Liga side.
While Manuel featured and
netted regularly for
Osasuna B in the Segunda B
Division, he was called up to
the first team and made his
La Liga debut in March
2012. Having played three
seasons in the Spanish top
flight and another one in the
Segunda Division for
Osasuna, Manuel had a
brief spell in Georgia with
FC Dinamo Tbilisi where he
was part of the side that
won the 2015 Georgian Cup.
He returned to Spain the
following season and
featured for Lleida Esportiu
and Lorca FC helping the
latter to a promotion to
Segunda Division in his
first season.
KITS 2019/20
ARMOURS FOR
THE SEASON
HOME KIT
The Blues’ iconic home
colours feature yet again
this season, and features a
crew neck collar, contrast
sleeve detail and
embroidered club crest.
With scarlet red sleeves, the
Bengaluru FC Home shirt
for the 2019-20 season also
has the PUMA dryCELL
feature, a moisture control
sportswear technology
patented by the German
manufacturer.
Get yours now on eshop.bengalurufc.com at Rs 1299/-
AWAY KIT
The 2019-20 away strip
features a blue and white
design similar to the home
kit. Carles Cuadrat’s men
will wear blue on either
sleeve as they take the
support and atmosphere
that Bengaluru and the
Fortress brings for them, on
away trips this season. The
2019-20 Away Kit also
features the PUMA dryCELL
feature, and is available for
customizations on the club’s
online shop.
THIRD KIT
Teaming up with JSW
Cement for the third time,
the Blues have gone green
with their alternate strip for
the 2019-20 season, this
time with an aqua
camouflage splash added to
their colour.
Only 100 of these were put
on sale on the club shop,
and these were sold out
within hours of being
launched.
Through the course of the
season, the Blues will aim
to champion causes that
concern the environment.
RAHUL BHEKE

THAT GOAL IN You’ve been quite the darling of the

Fortress, how relieved were you
MUMBAI REMINDS when you heard that BFC would
continue playing at the Kanteerava?
ME WHAT WE I was really happy when I got the news that
we are playing in Bengaluru. It doesn’t make
sense to play in Pune wearing a BFC jersey. It
COULD ACHIEVE just wouldn’t have felt right. Everybody
knows how important it is for us to play in
AS A TEAM: Bengaluru, our Fortress, because the
support and strength we get from the fans is
immense. Last season we were unbeaten at
home and that was squarely down to the
support, love and the strength we got from
the fans.

The club has six new signings, what’s
your take on them?
I think we have a really strong team this
season, especially when it comes to the
depth aspect of things. The competition for
places in the squad is hard and healthy and
that gives the team confidence. The new boys
have been giving their all through the
pre-season and have shown what they bring
to the team.
What’s life in national team colours
been like?
I think after the India call up, I have a huge
responsibility, personally and professionally.
INTERVIEW
I was really happy when I
got the news that we are
playing in Bengaluru. It
doesn’t make sense to play
in Pune wearing a BFC
jersey. It just wouldn’t
have felt right. Everybody
knows how important it is
for us to play in Bengaluru,
our Fortress, because
the support and strength
we get from the fans
is immense.
I have to keep doing well in each and every
game I play for the national team because at
this moment, the youngsters will be looking
up to me and I want to be a role model and a
good example to them.
The final aside, were there any other
moments from last season that you
hold dear?
Apart from the final, I think there were a
couple of special moments for me last
season - playing against the Barcelona B
team, scoring my first ISL goal, receiving my
first accolade at the Awards Night– all of
these were special.
That goal in the final, do you revisit it,
or has it been buried under…
I haven’t forgotten that goal in the final, but it
would be safe to say I’ve moved on from it. I
keep going back to it every now and then
when I need a reminder what we as a team
achieved, and what I, personally am capable
of on the big stage. It also keeps me
grounded and grateful for the kind of
dressing room I am a part of. The new season
will bring with it new targets and we can
achieve greater things.
Gurpreet Asamoah
Singh Gyan

Redeem Ashique
Tlang Kuruniyan
 IN FOCUS

EAGLE
EYE
We’ve picked players from
both sides who could start the
fireworks, a week in
advance...

BLUES
IN FOCUS
Erik
Paartalu Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
The Blues’ main man in goal, Gurpreet
Singh Sandhu has continued his fine form
from Bengaluru’s title winning 2018-19
Indian Super League season into
international colours with appearances
against Oman, Qatar and most recently,
Bangladesh. Having claimed the Golden
Glove award with a record of conceding less
than a goal per game, Gurpreet will look to
keep his numbers high and flying as Carles
Cuadrat’s men begin their title challenge.

Standing at 6’6’’, Gurpreet made 61 saves on

his way to keeping 7 clean sheets in the
previous campaign, and missed just one
game en route to lifting the coveted trophy.
Beginning his third season with Bengaluru,
and with an AFC Cup campaign to look
forward to, Gurpreet will be doing all he can
to be the Blues’ impregnable wall between
the sticks.

Erik Paartalu
The Aussie midfielder had to watch the
Indian Super League final from the stands
Jose after sustaining a knee injury in the run up
Leudo
to the semifinal, but now back and raring to
IN FOCUS
go, Erik has vowed to do all
he can to get the Blues back
to the top.
With Raphael Augusto
joining the squad, Big E has
two midfield generals in the
Brazilian and Spaniard
Dimas Delgado.
With his job tied to breaking
down attacks and sending
his wingers free with the
long diagonals, Paartalu is
key to Cuadrat’s plans and
also presents a viable
option for set-pieces with
the threat he poses with his
aerial presence. The big
man looks fitter and
stronger than ever, and will
look to set things right from
the get go.
Ashique Kuruniyan
Signed from FC Pune City
on a four-year deal, Ashique
Kuruniyan is among India’s
brightest young prospects.
With pace to burn and a
willingness to work hard,
the 22-year-old featured for
India in their AFC Asian Cup
campaign and, along with
Sunil Chhetri and Udanta
Singh, complete the nation’s
attacking trio. It remains to
be seen how Cuadrat
chooses to use his skill set,
but the winger, raring to go,
has made it known that the
competition for places in
the squad only makes him
want to work harder to
make the starting eleven.
Ashique has spoken of his
joy at finding himself at the
beginning of a new
challenge and is more than
willing to adapt to a new
style, at a club that offers
him a future at the top level
for several years .
NEUFC
IN FOCUS
Asamoah Gyan
One of the high-profile
signings in the Indian Super
League this season,
Asamoah Gyan brings in
quality firepower to the
Highlanders’ frontline. The
former Premier League
striker has played all over
the world and was a key
figure in Ghana’s run to the
quarterfinals of the 2010
FIFA World Cup.
Having arrived at the
Guwahati-based side from
Turkish Super Lig's
Kayserispor, Gyan brings in
a wealth of experience to
Robert Jarni’s side. He has
played in the top-flight
leagues of seven countries
across three continents, and
adapting will be the least of
his worries.
CAREER
GOALS
GHANAS’ RECORD
GOALSCORER
LEAGUE
TITLES
PROFESSIONAL
CLUBS
Gyan, who also had spells in
China and UAE, will more or
less be at home with the
conditions in India. Known
for scoring goals, his most
prolific spell came at UAE’s
Al Ain FC who he helped to
three league
championships in four
seasons while finishing as
UAE Pro League’s Top
Scorer three times. In 2014,
he even helped Al Ain to the
semifinals of the AFC
Champions League scoring
12 goals in the course of the
competition.
Jose Leudo
The Colombian midfielder
was an ever-present figure
in the NorthEast line-up
last season, making 19
appearances as the
Guwahati-based side made
it to the semifinals. A
staggering 85% passing
accuracy helped him
dominate the midfield,
allowing attackers to
flourish. He will once again
be a crucial player for the
Highlanders tonight, as they
take the field under Jarni
for the first time.
Redeem Tlang
The pacy winger was
another important player
for the Highlanders last
season and scored his only
goal in the first-leg of the
semifinal against the Blues
in Guwahati. Comfortable
with both feet, Redeem,
who featured 19 times for
NorthEast, will be a threat
on the flanks as well as one
of the key providers to Gyan
up front.
EVERYTHING ELSE

There’s so much happening

at the club and we intend to
keep you up to speed with
everything through this
space…

BFC CARES
The Blues relaunched BFC Cares in its new
avatar and has partnered with various causes
that they will champion over the course of
the year. BFC launched their new camouflage
third kit in association with JSW Cement,
which produces Green Cement through an
eco-friendly process that reduces CO2
emissions. The ‘For The Planet’ campaign
will see the first team act for change in their
every day habits for the environment.

BFC SOCCER SCHOOLS

Over the summer, BFC Soccer Schools
moved to three new cities in Mangalore,
Ahmedabad and Pune, reaching the
20-center milestone. With classes through
the week, the BFC Soccer Schools has
contributed heavily to the clubs U7, U9 and
U11 teams, which take part at the Double
Pass Development League.
The club has also added to its roster a BFC
Soccer Schools Elite Squad, which bridges
the gap between the paid youth program and
the club’s fully funded academy. Children
who are promoted through the Elite Squad
have the chance to represent the club’s youth
academy.
 EVERYTHING ELSE

PARTNERS AND SPONSORS

The Blues have tied up with several new
sponsors and partners ahead of the 2019-20
Indian Super League season. Leading online
news portal DafaNews has joined in as a
partner while Radio City 91.9 is Bengaluru’s
Official Radio Partner for the upcoming
campaign. APL Apollo Steel tubes have also
joined in as an associate sponsor, and will
appear on the sleeve of the Blues’ kit. KIA
Motors and Kingfisher continue to be the
club’s Principal Sponsors, while Wrogn and
Jockey have renewed their contract for
another season.

BFC ACADEMY
Bengaluru FC Under-18s kicked off their
season with the inaugural edition of the
Vedanta Youth Cup, an invitational
tournament featuring India’s top-four
residential academies. With four games to
play in a week in Sirsaim, Goa, Naushad
Moosa’s BFC U18 opened their campaign
with a 3-0 win over Reliance Foundation
Young Champs before being held to a 1-1
draw by hosts SESA Football Academy. A
dominant 2-0 win over Tata Football Academy
meant the Blue Colts finished the group
stage as toppers.

BFC U18 ended their campaign with a

hard-fought 1-2 loss to RFYC in the play-offs
finishing runners-up in the competition.
Despite losing in the final, Moosa stressed on
the positives and the importance of getting
good exposure. The experience through
competitive games has helped the Academy
staff assess the team’s strengths and
weaknesses ahead of the Youth League and
local campaign.
 THE ROAD AHEAD

OCT 21, 2019 NORTHEAST UNITED HOME

OCT 28, 2019 FC GOA AWAY

NOV 3, 2019 JAMSHEDPUR FC AWAY

NOV 10, 2019 CHENNAIYIN FC HOME

NOV 23, 2019 KERALA BLASTERS HOME

NOV 29, 2019 HYDERABAD FC AWAY

DEC 4, 2019 ODISHA FC AWAY

DEC 15, 2019 MUMBAI CITY FC HOME

DEC 18, 2019 NORTHEAST UNITED AWAY

DEC 25, 2019 ATK AWAY

JAN 3, 2020 FC GOA HOME

JAN 9, 2020 JAMSHEDPUR FC HOME

JAN 17, 2020 MUMBAI CITY FC AWAY

JAN 22, 2020 ODISHA FC HOME

JAN 30, 2020 HYDERABAD FC HOME

FEB 7, 2020 CHENNAIYIN FC AWAY

FEB 15, 2020 KERALA BLASTERS AWAY

FEB 22, 2020 ATK HOME