Diamond Harbour FC Unveil New Foreign Duo: Bright Enobakhare & Sunday Afolabi
Kolkata, August 28: Diamond Harbour FC officially introduced two new Nigerian recruits ahead of the upcoming season, forward Bright Enobakhare and defensive midfielder Sunday Afolabi, in a special press conference on Thursday.
For Indian football followers, Enobakhare is already a familiar face. The Nigerian forward, who can operate both as a striker and winger, featured for East Bengal in the 2020–21 Indian Super League season, which was played inside the bio-bubble in Goa during the pandemic. Despite the challenges of closed-door matches, he left flashes of his talent, including his memorable goal against FC Goa. Before arriving in India, Enobakhare had a stint with Al-Bidda SC in Qatar.
Now, the 26-year-old returns to Bengal football, this time with debutants Diamond Harbour FC, bringing with him the experience of playing at the highest level in India. “ I know the passion of Kolkata football, and I want to give my best for Diamond Harbour FC,” he said during the unveiling.
Alongside him, Diamond Harbour FC have roped in Sunday Afolabi, a strong Nigerian defensive midfielder, who makes his first move into Indian football. Afolabi previously played for Perak FC in the Malaysian Super League, where he was teammates with Brazilian midfielder Clayton Silveira, who has also joined Diamond Harbour FC this season. His presence is expected to add solidity and balance in the middle of the park.
With both attacking flair in Enobakhare and midfield steel in Afolabi, Diamond Harbour FC’s foreign contingent looks well-rounded as they prepare for their first major season. The club’s management expressed confidence that the duo will not only strengthen the squad but also inspire younger players with their international experience.
Both the foreigners, outlines a step-by-step approach to playing the game, emphasizing the goal of accumulating maximum points to secure a top position. And noted that the coach is currently concentrating on preparations for the ISL league, rather than the previous League.
Sunday Afolabi noted the significant fan attendance at football matches in India, drawing a comparison to his experience in Malaysia where 20,000 to 50,000 fans would turn up at the stadium. He concluded that the people in this country truly love football and expressed that it is a privilege for him to be here. He also mentioned that Indian football is growing with every season. “I wanted to come here. I think the Indian leagues are more competitive than before. Now it’s getting bigger and a lot of players are coming in. They are going to the AFC, so it shows the league is growing every year,” he said.
As the countdown to the new campaign begins, Diamond Harbour FC’s faithful will be eager to see how these two Nigerians adapt and make their mark in Indian football.
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