NorthEast United sign 3 big names- Garcia, Mtonga & Tzvoras

ISL Press Release

NorthEast United Football Club has made yet another big announcement with the signings of Portuguese defender Miguel Garcia, Zambian midfielder Kondwani Mtonga and Greek goalkeeper Alexandros Tzvoras for the inaugural edition of the Hero Indian Super League which will kick off on October 12, 2014.

Miguel Garcia is a youth academy product of Sporting Clube De Portugal which is a premier club in Portugal, and made his debut appearance in the 2003-04 season for the senior team. The Portuguese sensation has also played in the UEFA Cup and appeared in the finals for Sporting Lisbon in 2005 with a final appearance in 2011 for Sporting Clube de Braga.

The 31-year-old stopper back has also played for Italian football club Reggina during the 2007-2008 season. After his one year stint with the Italian club he inked a new deal with the Portuguese club, Sporting Clube Olhanense, in 2009 for six months. He also featured for Sporting Clube de Braga in the 2010-11 season and moved to Turkey to play for Turkish football club, Orduspor, for two seasons (2011-13). He then went on to sign for Spanish football club RCD Mallorca (2013-14). Garcia was also part of the under-21 2004 UEFA European Championship squad and his team had an incredible third place finish.

On signing his contract with NorthEast United FC, Garcia stated, “I am very happy to be a part of this club. I have been in Shillong for a week now and everyone here is very friendly.

“All the boys are working really hard on their fitness and skill during training sessions.  Playing for NorthEast United is a big challenge for me as I need to adapt to how football is played here and I am looking forward to a good season with this club.”

The club has also signed Zambian international Kondwani Mtonga to bolster the squad for the first season of the ISL. The 30-year-old is a versatile player as he can play either as a centre back or as a defensive midfielder and has played for Zamtel Ndola in 2007. He has had a successful long term club career with Zesco United since 2008.

He has now made a switch to NorthEast United FC and expressed his delight on signing for the club by stating, “I am very happy to be here, meeting all my team mates and club officials. I am very excited to be part of the Hero Indian Super league and I am looking forward to playing in front of the NorthEast United FC fans.  I will do my best to help the team win.”

Another big signing made by NorthEast United FC is with Alexandros Tzorvas who is one of the most well-known goalkeepers worldwide. He started playing football in the Panathinaikos Football Academy and went on to play for various football clubs in Greece from 2001 to 2011 and then played for Italian clubs Palermo and Genoa in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons respectively.

Tzorvas has played for the under-21 Greek national team and also for the senior team since 2008. He was the first choice goalkeeper for his country in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and also during the UEFA Euro 2012.One of his greatest accomplishments to date is that he defied the Ukrainian attack in a World Cup double leg play off fixture that sent Greece to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. We look forward to seeing this veteran goalkeeper in the NEUFC this inaugural season.

With these three big  announcements NEUFC has managed to effectively sign players whose versatility and skill will only add to their end goal -- to win the ISL and maintain the sustainability and loyalty amongst its fan following.