FC Goa today announced the signing of Afghanistan captain and defender Zohib Islam Amiri and Australian forward Tolgay Özbey to add firepower to their campaign in the inaugural Hero Indian Super League. The two charismatic foreigners have been star performers on the Indian football circuit over the last few years and have been turning out for Dempo Sports Club since the last season.The 27-year-old Amiri is one of Afghanistan’s most-capped players of all time, having earned over 40 international caps and scoring five goals. He led Afghanistan to a spectacular triumph in the 2013 SAFF Cup in Nepal as the underdogs humbled defending champions India by a 2-0 margin in the final.After turning out for Shoa FC and Kabul Bank in his home country, Amiri signed up with Mumbai FC in 2011 and immediately underlined his efficacy for his new employers by his committed defending while also foraging upfield as a forward to score some decisive goals. So decisive was his impact that Amiri received the Football Players Association of India’s fans’ player of the season award for 2012-13. In January 2014 he transferred to Dempo and scored on debut against Rangdajied United. His contract was extended by the Golden Eagles for the current season.The Sydney-born Özbey is a pacy forward and prolific goal scorer who has turned out for various clubs in the New South Wales league and A League Down Under, including Blacktown City Demons, Sydney FC, and Newcastle Jets. He ventured to Turkey before returning to Australia and then made a career defining shift to India and East Bengal in 2010. Under Trevor Morgan, the red & golds touched dizzy heights and Tolgay was simply unstoppable, knocking in goals by the dozen and contributing to several East Bengal tournament triumphs.Özbey’s stints with Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting were not that successful going by the high standards that he set earlier but he rediscovered his scoring boots again after joining Dempo in the mid-season last year. He knocked in eight goals, including all four in a rout of defending champions Churchill Brothers in the I-League, and lifted the struggling team to a respectable fourth placed finish.The inclusion of these two highly talented foreigners will strengthen legendary manager Zico’s hands as he plots FC Goa’s way to success in the inaugural tournament which begins next month. FC Goa play their first fixture at home against Chennaiyin FC on October 16.
