Churchill add Spanish flavour to team with Tana signing

Panaji: Churchill Brothers FC have completed their foreign quota for the season with the signing of Spanish midfielder Tanausu Dominguez, better known as Tana.
The attacking midfielder has vast experience, having played in all tiers of Spanish football including La Liga for his hometown side Las Palmas.
Tana has joined the two-time I-League champions from Dhivehi Premier League club Maziya S&RC and recently featured in the AFC Cup, alongside top clubs from India and Bangladesh.
“We had a lot of screening before selections. My dad (Churchill Alemao) watched all the videos and we were convinced. Our coach is also very happy.
“Tana is very good and a promising player with high quality. Our club is very happy and lucky to have him onboard,” Churchill Bros CEO Valanka Alemao told TOI on Saturday.
Churchill have always built a team to challenge for the title and this season is no different with head coach Antonio Rueda set to take charge from the start of the season.
Last season, the Spanish coach missed the first half of the I-League campaign as he was recovering from Covid-19. However, he took charge midway and turned Churchill’s fortunes, bringing them out of the bottom half and finishing fourth.
Churchill recently announced the signing of Senegal striker Abdoulaye Sane and Iranian winger Milad Pakparvar. They had only retained Senegalese centre-back Momo Cisse from last season’s campaign.
This season’s I-League winners will get a direct spot in the Indian Super League (ISL) for 2023-24. Churchill finished runnersup on three occasions, most recently in the 2020-21 edition.
“We must win the league. Not only this season, but every season is important for us. I look forward to a good season,” said Valanka.