Chirag United turns into Prayag United

Kolkata's United Sports Club have found a new sponsor in city-based Prayag Group of Industries. The I-League side and PGI signed a six year sponsorship contract which will be worth Rs. 50 Million (5 crores) for the first season. The club will from now on be known as Prayag United Sports Club.

For over four seasons Chirag Computers had been sponsors of United SC with the club better known as Chirag United SC, but over the summer club officials and Chirag Computers owner Kaustav Roy had a fall out which led to the club officials looking for a new sponsors, while Chirag have signed a sponsorship and ownership deal with Viva Kerala.

United SC had finished last season in eighth place of the I-League and with the help of their new owners the club want to be amongst the contenders for the I-League and Federation Cup titles after last season winning their first-ever Durand Cup crown.

United SC secretary Alokesh Kundu and chairman of PGI Basudeb Bagchi signed the MOU in presence of AIFF Vice-President Subrata Dutta, AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das and IFA Secretary Utpal Ganguli.

Former India Under-16 assistant coach Sanjoy Sen has been appointed as the new coach of Prayag United SC. The complete squad for the new season was not announced today, but some infos given on the composition of the team.

Attending the announcement function was seasoned Ghanian Yakubu Yusif, who has been signed from champions Salgaocar SC. The other foreigners are Nigerian defender Bello Razaq (Viva Kerala) and Brazilian Josimar da Silva Martins who has been retained. The club has further retained junior international Arnab Mondal plus influential midfielder Denson Devadas and Lal Kamal Bhowmick. Young talented goalkeeper Jagroop Singh (Indian Arrows) has been signed while seasoned midfielder Jayanta Sen returns from Mohun Bagan AC.

The club is said to be in talks with international defender Deepak Kumar Mondal (Mohun Bagan AC) and Kiwi Kayne Vincent (Churchill Brothers), while also looking to strengthen the team before the end of the transfer period.

The new sponsors also said that they would like to set-up three Academies along with the club, one each in North Bengal, the Jungle Mahal area and in Assam.