Days after Kerala Blasters and striker Mark Sifneos parted ways in the ongoing Indian Super League, the 21-year-old Dutch player joined FC Goa as a replacement for their Spanish forward Adrian Colunga.
Sifneos will thus earn the rare distinction of being the first player to don the jerseys of two different teams in the same season of the ISL. His move clears the air over injury concerns and rumours of a move to the Dutch national team, which were cited as the possible reasons for Sifneos leaving the Kerala-based outfit.
“The club is pleased to get Sifneos on board. He’s a player who has already proved his quality in the league this year with his goals and all round play. We hope he can continue to replicate those performances for us,” said an FC Goa official.
Meanwhile, Kerala Blasters have announced the signing of Icelandic striker Gudjon Baldvinsson. He joins the Men in Yellow on loan from Icelandic club FC Stjarnan. What might have paved the way for 31-year-old Baldvinsson's arrival is the addition of former Iceland international Hermann Hreidarsson to the Blasters coaching staff. Hreidarsson and the current Blasters coach David James have played three seasons together for Portsmouth FC.
Sifneos has scored four goals so far this season and will add more firepower to the Goan forward line, which already has two prolific strikers in Ferran Corominas (10 goals) and Manuel Lanzarote (7 goals). Interestingly, Sifneos scored a goal against FC Goa when Kerala played them at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda.
The Kerala team, which is co-owned by Sachin Tendulkar, has already been plagued with injuries this season, with Bulgarian international and Manchester United Dimitar Berbatov, defender Rino Anto and Ugandan sensational midfielder Kizito Keziron unable to take the field.
FC Goa are fourth on the points table while Kerala Blasters are seventh, in the 10-team tournament.
