Jamshedpur FC bolstered their defence with the signing of Stephen Eze for the upcoming season of the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL). Speaking to the official website of Jamshedpur FC, the Nigerian defender shared his excitement at the prospect of manning the backline alongside Peter Hartley, who also joined the club recently after a stint with Scottish outfit Motherwell FC.

“Peter Hartley is vastly experienced, a proven winner and someone who has played at a very high level. He’s a leader as well. So, it will be an honour to play alongside him and learn from him. We’ve been in contact and he’s a gentleman as well. I’m looking forward to working with him and of course the rest of the team,” Stephen shared.

The defender then opened up on the influence that Jamshedpur FC’s new head coach Owen Coyle had on his decision to move to India. “After I learned about the club’s interest in me, I looked at their profile on the internet, and the first thing that struck me was the passion of the fans and the stable structure of the club. Then, as soon as I spoke to the gaffer and he told me his plans for the upcoming season, the decision was really easy,” Stephen said.

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“It didn’t take long for him (Coyle) to convince me; his pedigree and what he has achieved in the game is extraordinary. For me, the chance to work with him is something I don’t want to miss out on. It is a massive opportunity for me to develop personally and professionally, and I thank him again for giving me the chance to work under him,” the defender added.

During their three seasons in the Hero ISL, Jamshedpur FC have never managed to qualify for the playoffs. However, Stephen is hoping that he can help change that. “I’m very competitive and I hate to lose. I’m coming here to win for the fans. That being said, I believe in approaching everything one step at a time, one game at a time, fight till the end of the season and hopefully make my fans proud,” he explained.

While citing the reasons for his move to India, the 26-year-old defender, added, “When you see the fans, supporters and the overall structure of the club and of course, an opportunity to play under the boss Owen Coyle, it’s a no-brainer. The decision making was easy. I’m a very competitive person. I have a big desire to win and after listening to him, I knew the next steps in my career were with Jamshedpur FC.”