Indian international Gouramangi Singh has touched down in Australia for the start of a two-week trial with Melbourne Heart FC.
Indian international Gouramangi Singh has touched down in Australia for the start of a two-week trial with Melbourne Heart FC.
Singh will link up with the squad as it embarks on a pre-season trip to the Gold Coast, which will see the Heart spend a week in camp before taking on the Brisbane Roar in Toowoomba on June 25.
A central defender, Singh played a pivotal role in India-s victorious 2008 AFC Challenge Cup campaign, helping the unfancied side secure direct qualification to next year-s Asian Cup in Qatar where they have been grouped with the Qantas Socceroos.
Earning 21 caps at international level to date, the 24-year-old is highly regarded by the Indian football fraternity, clinching the ‘Best Defender- award as he helped lead Churchill Brothers SC to the 2008/09 I-League crown and qualification for the preliminary phase of the 2010 AFC Champions League.
Head Coach John van ‘t Schip said Gouramangi-s stint with the Club will provide the coaching staff with an opportunity to assess his capacity to adapt to the rigours of Australian football.
“Despite his age, Gouramangi is very experienced at international level, which is a credit to his maturity and ability to rise to a challenge,” he said.
“While Indian football is very much unknown outside of the sub-continent, we are hopeful Gouramangi will be able to make an impression.
“However, the Hyundai A-League is a very unique competition, requiring a certain set of qualities to succeed, while as a Club, we look for players who are adaptable and possess strong technical ability.”
