I-League: Uga Okpara agrees new one-year deal with East Bengal

After several days of negotiations, Nigerian central defender Uga Okpara has agreed to sign a new one-year contract with East Bengal. The center back finalised the deal with East Bengal on Thursday and thus is set for his fifth season with the Kolkata club.

Okpara, who has won the African Champions League twice with Nigerian club Enyimba and also represented Nigeria in the Beach Soccer World Cup, joined East Bengal in 2009 and has gone on to become one of the best defenders in Indian football, winning eight major trophies with the red-and-gold brigade.

The news will come as a big boost for East Bengal fans, following the departure of Trevor Morgan as head coach. Top scorer Edeh Chidi had signed a new deal earlier this month but another Nigerian Penn Orji is yet to come to an agreement and thus could still leave the club.

Nandy to Mohun Bagan?

Meanwhile, Sandip Nandy could be on his way to Mohun Bagan after spending one memorable season with Churchill Brothers. The 38-year-old was instrumental in the Goan club’s second I-League triumph, keeping the maximum clean sheets but he is keen on a return to Kolkata.

If the deal goes through, it will be Nandy’s second spell with the green-and-maroon brigade, having won the National Football League (NFL) title with them back in 2000.

Mohun Bagan though are set to release Australian Tolgay Ozbey, who would reportedly get a compensation of Rs 30 lakh.