Exclusive: NorthEast United sign Ghanaian midfielder Augustine Okrah

The 24-year-old has previously played under the Highlanders' head coach Eelco Schattorie.

After completing the signing of  Nigerian Bartholomew Ogbeche and Uruguayan Juan Cruz Mascia, NorthEast United have signed their third foreigner in the form of 24-years-old Ghanaian Augustine Okrah. Okrah, who has been handpicked by The Highlanders’ manager Eelco Schattorie, had previously played under him at Red Bull Ghana back in 2011-12.

The winger cum attacking midfielder is coming in from his stint at Egyptian Premier League side Smouha Sporting Club, where he featured in nine matches and had a goal to his name. However, Okrah terminated his contract with the Egyptian side a few months back and will be reuniting with his former gaffer Schattorie in India. The young winger spent his first few years at various clubs in the Ghana Premier League, before moving out to Swedish top-tier side Bollklubben Häcken in a loan spell.

Augustine then moved to Sudanese club Al Merreikh, where he won his first two pieces of silverware, the Sudan Premier League and the Sudan Cup. From Al Merreikh he joined Al Hilal in Sudan before moving out to Smouha, where he last played. Okrah has joined the team in Guwahati and will soon be on the field for practice before flying out to Turkey for their pre-season.

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"Okrah enjoys playing regularly and he is hoping to join a club that suits his style. Also, he wants a club with a little consistency in how coaches are hired and fired since situations like that have previously affected him," quoted the Ghana Crusader from a source after he left his last club in Egypt.

With two of their three foreign signings being under the age of 25, NorthEast have so far done gone well with their overseas acquisitions. Though, there haven’t been any big names involved, but the young Indian contingent along with the foreigners are looking good on paper to give The Highlanders some better results this season.