Blues Continue Fortifying Squad Ahead Of AFC Cup Inter-Zone Semifinal

Bengaluru: Defender Nishu Kumar and striker Thongkhosiem Haokip have signed new two-year contracts, keeping them with Bengaluru FC till the end of the 2020 season, the club announced on Tuesday.

While the duo was used sparingly in the Indian Super League by former coach Albert Roca, they were key to Bengaluru’s AFC Cup campaign where the Blues made the knock-out stages for the fourth straight season.

Nishu, who joined the club in 2015, scored a vital 90th minute winner in the group stage game against New Radiant at the Kanteerava and finished the Blues’ season with a fantastic brace away to Abahani Dhaka where Roca’s boys sealed qualification to the next round of the Cup.

“I am delighted to extend my stay at a club where I have grown with every passing training session. I’ve had to fight for my chances this season and that’s always a good sign because you’re working harder than you would have. The management, coaching staff, dressing room and the fans have always been so supportive of me and I think this was an easy decision to make,” said Nishu who turns twenty-one later this year.

Haokip, who was picked in the ISL draft back in July 2017, played a key role in a season where Roca rotated his squad heavily owing the fixture pile up. Playing nine games in the Asian campaign of 2018, Haokip struck three goals in the qualifying stages, which included a match winning brace in the play-off stage game against TC Sports Club from Maldives as Bengaluru booked a berth in the group stages of the competition.