Kolkata, Nov 8 (IANS) Football giants East Bengal have signed Haitian forward Wedson Anselme for the forthcoming I-League, the club confirmed on Tuesday. Anselme said he wants to win the tournament for his new club.
East Bengal haven't won the I-League for 13 years. The 30-year-old was the team-mate of arch rival Mohun Bagan's Sony Norde -- currently playing in the Indian Super League (ISL) for Mumbai City FC -- at Bangladesh club Sheikh Jamal.
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Anselme has previously represented San Cristobal FC in the Dominican Republic and Aigle Noir AC in Haiti. "Wedson is here (at the club tent) and has signed for us. We are happy to have him with us," a club official told IANS.
"I want to help East Bengal become champions after 13 years. I know what everybody wants from me. I wanted to play the Calcutta Football League (CFL). But my previous club (Sheikh Jamal) did not allow me," Anselme told reporters here.
"I have scored eight goals in nine matches this season. Sony is a very good friend of mine. I have not come here to fight with him but to prove my mettle. I have been overwhelmed by the support of the East Bengal fans," added the Haitian.
There were talks between the player and East Bengal for the last five months. Anselme finally signed on Tuesday, igniting their fans' excitement. Coach Trevor Morgan will now hope that Anselme will fill the void left by Nigerian striker Ranti Martins, who now plays for Penang FA in the Malaysian Super League.
But the club is yet to finalise the four foreigners list stipulated in the I-League with English defender Calum Angus and South Korean Do Dong-hyun's fate hanging in the balance.
The I-League starts on January 7 next year.
--IANS
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