I-League 2017/18: Sony Norde bids adieu to Mohun Bagan with a heart-warming letter

What's the story?

Mohun Bagan's skipper Sony Norde has finally left the club after his severe knee injury. The talismanic forward was injured in a game against Churchill Brothers FC in the ongoing i-league season and has to undergo surgery.

Mohun Bagan's last game which happened to be the Kolkata Derby saw 15,000 fans wearing Norde masks in order to give a fitting tribute to the Haitian striker. Being overwhelmed by the gesture of his fans he has written an open letter for the fans before leaving the Mariners.

In case you didn't know

Sony Norde played 65 games for Mohun Bagan in three and a half seasons and scored 29 goals. He has also been named the MVP in past in Bangladesh Premier League. He also played for Mumbai City FC for two seasons in the Indian Super League in which he scored four goals in 23 games.

The heart of the matter

As a token of thanks, Norde wrote a letter to his fans, a picture of which is given below:

He wrote, "With a heavy heart I wish to inform that I have to leave my team Mohun Bagan in the middle of the season. The decision was a very tough one for me.

"My heartiest thanks to the Club officials, technical staffs, the players and supporters for showering their love and kindness," he added.

The Haitian concluded his letter by wishing his team all the best for the remainder of the season and promising that he would see them soon.

What's next?

Norde will be undergoing surgery on his right meniscus in Argentina while Mohun Bagan are looking for an ideal replacement. They are in talks with the Ethiopian striker Fikru Teferra and if reports are to be believed, are likely to strike a deal with him over the coming weeks.

However, Norde's last line in the letter also suggests that he might be back at the club after recovering completely.

Author's take

Sony Norde was a very respected player in not only Mohun Bagan but entire I-League. His departure has left many fans teary-eyed but we hope to see him back someday in I-League or ISL