Journalism of Courage
Pune FC have added city-born forward Prakash Thorat to their line-up for the coming season.
The clubs first signing for the season resulted with the 28-year-old becoming the third player from Pune to ever figure in the main squad. Earlier,striker Sandesh Gadkari (2007-2011) and winger Paresh Shivalkar (2010-12) plied their skills at the club.
The forward is the fourth Maharashtra player after Kolhapurs Nikhil Kadam to feature for Pune FC. Thorat signed a two year contract,which ensures he will don the colours of Pune FC from 2013-2015.
Pune FCs Head of Operations Chirag Tanna said,We are happy to have Thorat on board. His signing should send a strong message that hard work is recognised and Pune has talent.
His career took off when Air-India took him on during the second window of the 2011-12 season,where he effectively executed his role as a winger. On his I-League debut (Air India FC vs Pailan Arrows,14 April 2012) at the Salt Lake Stadium,he scored both goals to get a 2-0 victory for Air India.
In his first professional season (2011-12),Thorat made seven I-League appearances and played a pivotal role for his side to consolidate a mid-table berth.
Thorat followed up on his scoring ability by netting three in the 2012-13 I-League in the 20 appearances he made. Incidentally,he was deployed as a winger for a moajority of those matches.
My target is to get settled in fast. cement my place in the team,which I will work on immediately. This has been my dream and I want to prove myself with every single opportunity I get, said Thorat.
Thorat has twice bagged the Golden Boot in the Nagpur Football League (2010 and 2011),scoring seven goals in each edition respectively. Later In 2011,he followed up his goal-scoring instincts with 13 goals in 5 games in the inaugural Aurangabad Premier League.
