Faysal Shayesteh extends contract at Sreenidi Deccan

The attacking midfielder has played for the Netherlands-based FC Twente youth team in the past.

31-year-old Afghan international Faysal Shayesteh has signed a contract extension with I-League club Sreenidi Deccan, Khel Now can confirm. A source close to the development informed Khel Now, "Faysal Shayesteh has signed a two-year extension with Sreenidi Deccan."

Comfortable both on the wing and in an attacking midfield role, Shayesteh has played for clubs in the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Thailand, and Persia.

About the Player

An 18-year-old Shayesteh was a part of the FC Twente youth academy and signed a contract with Heerenveen. He began his senior career with Bulgarian First League club Etar 1924, before embarking on a journeyman career that saw him play for nine different clubs in eight years. The Afghan was on the books of Gokulam Kerala in the 2017-18 season and made a solitary appearance.

A free-kick maestro, Faysal Shayesteh made his international debut in 2014 and has since represented his nation in the SAFF Championship, World Cup Qualifiers, and AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. He also captained the national team and took them to the finals of the 2015 SAFF Championship, winning the ‘Afghan Athlete of the year' award the same year. Shayesteh’s first international goal was a 50-yard free-kick against Turkmenistan.

He has settled well into Sreenidi Deccan’s system and has netted three goals and provided four assists in 10 I-League appearances this season.

Sreenidi Deccan’s season so far

The Deccan Warriors have been a force to reckon with under coach Carlos Vaz Pinto. At the time of writing, they sit in second place with 28 points from 14 games, a point behind RoundGlass Punjab. With an ISL berth handed to the champions, free-scoring Sreenidi will be aiming to topple the leaders. They have 27 goals this season, the most among I-League clubs, and their captain David Castaneda has been in scintillating form with 12 goals. Sreenidi Deccan face Churchill Brothers in their next game.