Jamshedpur FC

Jamshedpur, July 25: A thrilling 3-2 win over Tribhuvan Army FT wasn’t just the perfect start to Jamshedpur FC’s Durand Cup campaign, it was also a loud announcement from the club’s new faces.

Sarthak Golui, wearing Jamshedpur colours for the first time, opened the scoring in the fifth minute. It came from a long throw by Praful Kumar, another new signing. Sarthak nudged past the goalkeeper and wheeled away in celebration in front of a houseful crowd at the JRD Tata Sports Complex.

“It was a dream start. I can’t describe the feeling,” said Sarthak. “Scoring in my debut and helping the team win, it couldn’t have gone better. We just want to build on this momentum now.”

If the goals got the crowd on their feet, the grit shown by the younger squad kept them there. Coach Khalid Jamil fielded five new faces in the lineup and all of them were welcomed by a jubilant Jamshedpur crowd.

Praful, who played in as a central defender, looked composed throughout. “I really enjoyed my role today,” he said. “The coach trusted us younger players and that gave me a lot of confidence. I felt no pressure, just excitement.”

Manvir Singh, who rejoined Jamshedpur FC, also had a memorable evening, scoring the team’s second goal. “Not every player gets a second chance like this, especially to return and score. I felt happy, but there’s more work to do and we’re preparing for the challenges ahead,” said the forward, who looked sharp and motivated throughout his comeback outing.

With a good mix of youth and experience, Jamshedpur FC now turn their focus to the next challenge on July 29, when they face the Indian Army Football Team at the JRD Tata Sports Complex.