Exclusive: Real Kashmir FC rope in former Punjab FC ace Dipanda Dicka

The Snow Leopards have brought in the striker in a one-year deal ahead of the upcoming I-League campaign.

I-League outfit Real Kashmir FC have roped in prolific striker Dipanda Dicka ahead of next season, sources close to Khel Now can confirm. The Cameroonian has joined the Snow Leopards in a one-year deal.

Real Kashmir were fourth in the I-League standings when the league went into hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The remaining fixtures were later called off, therefore, eluding their chance of finishing in a much better spot.

However, looking at next season, head coach David Robertson has added quality players to their roster. Dipanda Dicka will look to put an end to their goalscoring woes. The Cameroonian, since his DSK Shivajians days, has been a prolific goalscorer. He notched up 12 goals from 16 appearances last season for Punjab FC and will look to carry the same form to the valley. In his two-year stint at Mohun Bagan, he was never shy of the double-digit goal-scoring tally in the I-League, which proves his ability and hunger as a marksman.

Similarly, Mithun Samanta, who plied his trade for Tiddim Road Athletic Union (TRAU) last season as their primary custodian under the bar, has also joined the Snow Leopards.

It was a breakthrough season for the custodian from Bengal as he had some noteworthy performances between the sticks. Overall, TRAU weren't the most well-drilled unit and had their defensive woes but Samanta with his performances at times kept the Red Pythons in the game. The Real Kashmir FC management will be hoping that the 28-year-old will be able to replicate similar kind of performances next season.

Over the years, Real Kashmir are known for their compact defence and last season wasn't any different. David Robertson's men conceded 14 goals, only one more than Mohun Bagan who had the best defensive record in the league. The credit goes to the defenders and their custodian Phurba Lachenpa who had a terrific season with the Snow Leopards.

Robertson will be hopeful that former TRAU goalkeeper Mithun Samanta will be able to reach similar heights of his predecessor. Both the signings will add a lot of quality and promise to the overall roster for Real Kashmir FC as they desperately needed a prolific goalscorer like Dipanda Dicka.