Atletico de Kolkata today announced the decision to retain foreigners Iain Hume, Tiri, Sameehg Doutie and Ofentse Nato for the upcoming Indian Super League franchise-based football tournament.
Riding the waves of popularity will be the Canadian striker Hume who scored 11 goals last year, including two hat-tricks, and helped ATK reach the semi-finals.
Bolstering the squad again will be Nato and the very dynamic Tiri and Sameehg Doutie, who stole the show along with Hume in last season.
The title holders of the inaugural edition and last year's semifinalists also announced to retain the services of central defender Arnab Mondal and central midfielder Jewel Raja.
New additions to the domestic players are Shilton Paul, Debjit Majumder, Pritam Kotal, Bikramjit Singh, Kingshuk Debnath, Bidyananda Singh Ningthoujam, Bikash Jairu, Dika, Robert Lalthlanumna and Prabir Das, an ATK release said.
U-17 Manipur lad Bidyananda Singh, who is nicknamed Honda, was spotted by Youth Academy Coaches from Barcelona, Manchester United and Inter Milan and was the most versatile player during the training camp at the Aspire Academy in Doha.
ATK head coach Jose Molina said he was looking forward to join the team.
"I am truly excited about the talent. This year we have some of the best Indian players who will be playing for ATK," he said.
