Air India sign Nigerian defender

MUMBAI: Air India has signed a new Nigerian player, Femi Joseph Adeola, to boost their squad for the grueling season ahead. Adeola, a central defender who was playing for Dragons FC in Benin, joined the team on Monday and is in contract till the end of the National Football League (NFL) 2007.

The Mumbai team now has three Nigerians in its ranks including Bashiru Abbas and AK Martins. And what might help the team’s cause is that the trio has played together before, for the Nigerian club Athletico FC Lagos, which played in the Pro Division 1 of the country’s national league.

“I think they should gel well together. We wanted a foreign defender because most big teams go for foreign strikers. That’s how we plan to counter their threat. Besides, our strikers, like Shivalkar (Paresh), are doing a good job,” said Bimal Ghosh, Air India coach.

The 1.82 metres tall Adeola goes by the nickname of ‘reliable’. “I am very consistent with my performances and I work really hard, probably that is why the name,” said Adeola.

“I am looking forward to my stay in India and making my name in this country.”