Garhwal FC sign ex-Kerala Blasters reserves captain Afdal VK

The 24-year-old forward has previously lifted the Santosh Trophy with Kerala and reached the semi-finals of the Kerala Premier League with the Yellow Army.

Second Division League outfit Garhwal FC have signed Afdal VK on a season-long deal, Khel Now can confirm. The former Kerala Blasters reserves team player will feature for his new club in the upcoming I-League Qualifiers in October.

"Garhwal FC have completed the signing of Afdal VK," a source close to the developments informed Khel Now. His will remain contracted with the Delhi-based club for the next three months, including the entire duration of the I-League qualification tournament. The two-footed striker's earliest claim to fame happened in 2013, when he became one among 12 winners of a national talent hunt conducted by Manchester United. As a result, he also got the opportunity to attend an U-19 training camp held by Manchester United Soccer Schools in England.

The very next year he joined former Kerala Premier League (KPL) champions Eagles FC and also continued to earn laurels in college and university-level competitions across the country. In 2016, he was named the best U-19 player in the National University Championship and a year later, he returned to the same competition to win the top scorer award.

The 2017-18 season turned out to be the biggest turning point in his career so far, as he lifted the Santosh Trophy with Kerala. He also scored three goals in the tournament, including the only goal in the semi-final as Kerala edged past Mizoram to set up a meeting against defending champions West Bengal in the final. A few months later, he signed for the Kerala Blasters Reserves team and during the 2018-19 season, he was named their captain.

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24-year-old Afdal VK played in all but three matches for Kerala Blasters Reserves that season, as they reached the semi-finals of the KPL and finished third in Group B of the Second Division League. With Garhwal FC, he is expected to play as a first-choice forward, as the Delhi outfit prepare to take part in the I-League Qualifiers starting next month.