Miguel Garcia, Kondwani Mtonga and Alexandros Tzvoras signed
SHILLONG: The NorthEast United Football Club on Wednesday announced that it has signed of Portuguese defender Miguel Garcia, Zambian midfielder Kondwani Mtonga and Greek goalkeeper Alexandros Tzvoras for the inaugural edition of the Hero Indian Super League.
Garcia is the product of Sporting Clube De Portugal’s youth academy and made his debut appearance for the senior team in the 2003-04 season. The Portuguese sensation has also played in the UEFA Cup and appeared in the finals for Sporting Lisbon in 2005 besides a final appearance in 2011 for Sporting Club de Braga.
The 31-year-old stopper back also played for Italian football club, Reginna during the 2007-2008 season. After his one year stint with the Italian club he inked a new deal with the Portuguese Club, Sporting Clube Olhanense in 2009 for six months. He also featured for Sporting Clube de Braga in the 2010-11 season before moving to Turkey to play for Orduspor for two seasons (2011-13).
He was then included in the Spanish football club, RCD Mallorca (2013-14). Garcia was also part of the under-21 2004 UEFA European Championship in which his team had an incredible third place finish.
On signing his contract with NorthEast United FC Garcia stated, “I am very happy to be a part of this Club. I have been in Shillong for a week now and everyone here is very friendly.
“All the boys are working really hard on their fitness and skills.
“Playing for NorthEast United is a big challenge for me as I need to adapt to how football is played here and I am looking forward to a good season with this Club.”
Meanwile, Zambian International, Kondwani Mtonga is a versatile 30-year-old who can play both as a centre back and a defensive midfielder. He has played for Zamtel Ndola and also had a successful stint with Zesco United which he had joined in 2008.
“I am very happy to be here after meeting my team mates and club officials. I am very excited to be part of the Indian Super League and am looking forward to play in front of the North East United FC fans. I will do my best to help the team win,” Mtonga said.
Alexandros Tzorvas, who is a known face in Greece, started playing football in the Panathinaikos Football Academy from where he went on to play for various clubs in the country from 2001 to 2011.
Later he also featured in Italian Clubs, Palermo and Genoa in 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons respectively.
Tzorvas was the first choice goalkeeper for his country in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and also during the UEFA Euro 2012.
One of Tzorvas’s greatest career accomplishments to date came in Greece’s 2009 home-and-away World Cup playoff with Ukraine.
Tzorvas turned away the Ukrainian attack for the entire 180 minutes over ties in Athens and Donetsk, sustaining the Greeks’ 1-0 aggregate victory that sent the team to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.