Aizawl FC 3

I-League: Aizawl FC sign Leonce Dodoz, set eyes on Mizoram Premier League

Defending I-League champions Aizawl FC further reinforced their squad on Sunday, roping in Ivorian striker Leonce Dodoz for the upcoming season of top-flight football. Dodoz, who has played for Mohammedan Sporting in the second division I-League last year, is now part of Peerless SC in the Calcutta Football League (CFL), and took part in his side's match against East Bengal on Friday.

The lanky forward is no new face in Mizoram football circuit and had played a big role in Chanmari FC's Mizoram Premier League (MPL) winning campaign last year, where they had defeated Aizawl 6-2 on aggregate in the semi-final.

The Reds, who had scripted one of the most noteworthy underdog stories in Indian sports earlier this year, have lost many of their first team players to East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and the Indian Super League. After the departure of Khalid Jamil to the Red and Golds , Aizawl has appointed Portuguese Paulo Menezes as their new gaffer for the 2017-18 season.

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For the time being, the club is setting its eyes on winning back the Mizoram Premier League, with the season starting from 31st July. Broadcast by the local cable network Zonet, the competition is one of the most followed state leagues of the nation and draws huge crowds for its locality based rivalries.

On Saturday, the club won a practice match against Bethlehem Vengthlang 3-1, with Kareem Nurain, William Nalnunfela and Remsanga scoring the goals. The club is expected to play at least one more match before they take the field next week to begin the league journey.

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