MARGAO
NorthEast United defender Ponif Vaz has agreed to a one-year deal to join I-League club Real Kashmir FC.
The Fatorda- born defender had joined the Highlanders from Churchill Brothers on a three-year contract last year. The Sesa Football Academy product started his football career with Salcete Football Club, playing for the team in GFA under-14 and -16 leagues.
The 29-year-old defender played for Sesa FA for four seasons before he moved to Sporting Clube de Goa in 2015 and was part of the Flaming Oranje squad in the I-League before the team withdrew from the competition in 2016 alongside Goan teams Dempo SC and Salgaocar FC.
Injuries and lack of playing time saw Vaz ply his trade in the I-League second division with Fateh Hyderabad for three years before securing first-team action in the I-League with Churchill Brothers FC. He was the part of Goa-India gold-winning squad at the 2014 Lusofonia Games.
In his lone season at Churchill in 2019-20, Vaz made 13 appearances and had two assists and one goal in the Red Machines’ I-League campaign. His performance earned him a contract with NorthEast United. However, a knee injury shattered his dream of a debut in the Indian Super League. The defender is now eyeing a top-flight return with I-League heavyweights Real Kashmir FC.
“I am delighted to join Real Kashmir for the new season. I look forward to donning the Real Kasmir colours with pride and hunger and I’m very keen to meet my new teammates and start preparing for the journey ahead,” Vaz said. “I am excited about the opportunity and am looking forward to working with head coach David Robertson,” Vaz said.
