When all the clubs in hot pursuit awaiting the next edition of the Indian Super League, the much-established side and former ISL champions Bengaluru FC are in full swing preparing for the upcoming season. Amidst the pandemic, last season has only indulged some bitter moments for the blues, and the team management will be looking for a total revamp with some noticeable changes in the team dynamics.
With Bengaluru FC concentrating more towards youth development projects, the team management has handed a 2-year contract extension for their 21-year-old goalkeeper Sharon P whose contract was set to expire on May 31, 2021, IFTWC can exclusively confirm.
Standing tall behind the sticks, this 6’1 feet custodian was part of the senior team last year. Sharon P is currently the fourth keeper in the squad and was also part of the preparatory camp for the AFC group stage matches which made the path easier.
Hailing from Kerala, Sharon P started his career as a striker, who picked up the gloves by chance. With a few stints of poor performance during his early days, the coach suggested he try his luck between the bars foreseeing his height and since then there was no looking back for him.
Sharon P began his professional career with Sports Authority of India (SAI), Trivandrum where he competed in the U18 I-League where he outwitted every other goalkeeper with a decent set of performances in the league. His performance snapped the spotlight of the BFC scouts who came fishing in the talent pool of Indian football and the young prospect grabbed his professional contract with the Bengaluru FC reserves.
Sharon P spends the next two years with the reserve team and partook in the I-League second division and Bengaluru Super Division tournaments. In his first year with the reserves, Sharon lacked opportunities subjected to an injury and made a robust comeback on the successive season with an exceptional run of form where the team competed in the Bengaluru Super Division tournament and he was named “Player of the week” at several occasions. Apart from the goalkeeping skills, being go promising with the feet has eased his breakthrough into the senior team.
For a promising goalkeeper like him, sharing the dressing room with the likes of Sunil Chhetri and Ashique Kuruniyan will impart great experience. With the long road ahead, things will not be so easy for young Sharon P as he’s going to compete with National Team’s first-choice keeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and the other two experienced keepers for a spot in the first XI. The young dynamic keeper will need to work hard to establish himself in the team giving tough competition for the senior goalkeepers in the team.
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