Amarjit extends contract with Arrows after Dheeraj blow

Like Dheeraj, who is all set to appear for a trial with Sottish Premier League side Motherwell FC, the contract of Amarjit also was to end today.

Indian Arrows captain Amarjit Singh has extended his contract until the end of 2019-20 season.

Indian Arrows captain Amarjit Singh on Sunday extended his contract until the end of 2019-20 season, giving the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) developmental side a boost after goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh parted ways with the I-League side.

Like Dheeraj, who is all set to appear for a trial with Sottish Premier League side Motherwell FC, the contract of Amarjit also was to end today.

But the Manipuri, who spearheaded India’s U-17 World Cup campaign, decided to extend his contract for the rest of the current I-League season, plus another two years.

All the remaining players, except for Jeakson Singh, Anwar Ali and Nongdamba Naorem, have earlier signed contracts till the end of 2019-20 season, according to team sources.

Jeakson, Anwar and Naorem are currently with the Indian Arrows on loan from Minerva Punjab.

“Amarjit’s contract was to expire today but he has signed to extend his contract till 2019-20 season. Except for Jeakson, Anwar and Naorem, all the players now have the same contract till 2019-20,” a team official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

READ: Indian players: We have a learnt a lot from FIFA U-17 World Cup

Meanwhile, India’s U-17 World Cup goalie Dheeraj has applied for a visa to travel to the United Kingdom for a trial with Motherwell FC, which is currently at the bottom half of the Scottish Premier League table.

“Dheeraj has applied for his visa and he will be leaving for Scotland as soon as he receives the visa. He will be there in Scotland for at least two months for a trial at Motherwell FC,” his agent Anuj Kichlu told PTI.

Motherwell FC has written a letter to AIFF requesting the federation to release Dhiraj for a trial in Scotland. Apparently, in each of the contracts, the AIFF signed with Arrows players after the FIFA U-17 World Cup, there is a clause that they will be released if any foreign club expresses interest in them and officially writes to the federation in this regard.

Even if Motherwell decides to sign Dheeraj, it will not happen until July as Dheeraj is still a 17-year-old. He will be 18 on July 4, 2018.

“There are also some other uncertainties on Dheeraj getting a work permit in the UK and so he may go for trials in some other clubs at the lower level such as a Championship side,” Kichlu noted.