I-League: JCT axe duo for signing contract with Salgaocar

Desperately seeking full points against Salgaocar Sports Club to avoid relegation in I-League, JCT have dropped two of their contracted players after they admitted to have signed with the Goan side for next season.

According to team sources, Randeep Singh and Rahul Kumar were asked to clarify whether they had signed a deal with Salgaocar, and when they admitted, they were dropped from the team.

"It's disappointing and we were taken aback to hear that they have signed for a team who we must beat to save ourselves from relegation," sources said.

"The match is crucial for both teams as we need a victory to save ourselves from relegation and our opponent needs a win to lift the title," added sources.

Meanwhile, Salgaocar are all set to retain coach Karim Bencherifa, under whom the club has emerged as the hot favorites to win the I-League title this season.

Bencherifa has been rewarded for his achievement as the team management has agreed to sign an improved contract for the coming season, a club official said on Thursday.

Salgaocar need to win their last match against JCT, scheduled on May 30 at Jalandhar, Punjab to ensure that they win the title for the first time since 1998.

The club has also roped in four Sesa Goa Academy boys -- Nicolau Colaco, Vivek Karia, Gagandeeep Singh and Augustine Fernandes for the coming season.

"We have confirmed the signings of the Sesa players. They are young and promising," the official said.

The club is also in talks with Mohan Bagan winger Ishfaq Ahmed and Mohammedan Sporting's K Kisko, he added.