Sporting Club Bengaluru, established in April 2022, has witnessed a remarkable rise in the Indian football landscape. Within two years, the club has secured promotion from I-League 3 to I-League 2 and triumphed in the I-League 2 to qualify for the I-League, the second tier of Indian football.
Head coach Chinta Chandrashekar attributes the club’s success to a combination of factors: “We have done the right thing at every level, from the management to the coaching staff to the players.” The club prioritized signing hungry and ambitious players, scouting talent from the Santosh Trophy and local clubs.
Sporting’s I-League 2 triumph was emphatic, finishing the season with 33 points, six ahead of second-placed Dempo Sports Club. The team’s attacking prowess was evident, scoring 28 goals, seven more than any other team. Defensively, Sporting conceded just 12 goals, the lowest in the league.
Forward Thomyo L. Shimroy, who joined at the start of the 2023-24 season, played a pivotal role in the team’s success. He finished as joint top-scorer with 11 goals in 14 I-League 2 games. “I have been able to score so many goals because of the hard work of the whole team,” said Thomyo. “I am looking forward to the I-League next season. It is my dream to play in the I-League and the ISL (Indian Super League).”
Sporting’s meteoric rise is a testament to the club’s commitment to developing young talent and building a strong foundation. As they prepare for the I-League, the club’s ambition is to continue its upward trajectory and establish itself as a force in Indian football.
