Aizawl sign Mali striker Abdoulaye Kanoute

KOLKATA: Aizawl FC have signed Mali's Abdoulaye Kanoute for the upcoming I-League season that will begin on Saturday with Aizawl taking on Mohun Bagan at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Aizawl.
The Malian striker, 27, played for Bourj FC in Lebanon last season and helped them rise to the first division. If all goes well, Kanoute will be able to play for Aizawl from the first match itself. He has also represented the Mali national team and played for Churchill Brothers.
Apart from being with Bourj FC, the 6'3" forward has played for many other clubs in Lebanon like Gazieh, Al-Nabi SC and Shabab Sahel.He has also played in Nigeria, where he was part of Rivers United.
Kanoute is a big fan of Brazil's Ronaldo and Aizawl will count on him to make the most of chances that come his way as they look to repeat the miracle of 2016-17 I-League when they were crowned champions. However, the last two seasons have not gone well for the club. In the last season, Aizawl finished a lowly seventh that saw their coach Gift Raikhan stepping down in the middle of the season and their current coach Stanley Rosario coming in. Meanwhile during the season before that, they finished fifth.
Apart from Kanoute, Aizwal have also roped in Kingsley Obumneme and William Lalnunfela for the upcoming season. Alfred Jaryan and Richard Kassaga were already part of the squad and have played a vital role in helping them reach the top of the table in eighth season of Mizoram Premier League.