Indian football: East Bengal veteran quits club after seven years

East Bengal veteran utility player Harmanjot Khabra may have won a lot of Calcutta Football League (CFL) and Federation Cup titles with the club in his seven year tenure, but not being able to win the I-League title has forced him to part ways with the club. Khabra, who also plays for Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League, decided to leave East Bengal on Wednesday.

Although it is believed that the former East Bengal skipper had made his decision after his team failed to become a legitimate I-League contender right at the closing stages of the season, Khabra waited for the Red and Golds to perform well in the Federation Cup 2016, under Trevor Morgan.

However, their Fed Cup 2016 campaign, too, came to an end as Shillong Lajong knocked them out of the tournament on Wednesday after registering a better aggregate result over two legs. 

"I still remember the day when I came first in East Bengal,the day when I got the Red & Gold jersey. [sic]," Khabra posted on Facebook. "Today I played the last match for East Bengal [against Shillong Lajong] wearing that Red & Gold jersey.

"Really I am feeling very disappointing for not getting I-league in my 7 years of spell in East Bengal.Won all the other tournaments. I had so many memorable days in this 7 years, I don't want to mention any particular memory.

"Thanks to all the East Bengal supporters for your support,without your support I am nothing. [sic]," stated Khabra.

The India international has been seen playing as a full-back, midfielder as well as a winger at various occasions in his club career. Khabra joined East Bengal in 2009 and has been best remembered for his stunning headed goal for the Red and Golds against Mohun Bagan during a Kolkata Derby in December 2012.

Mohun Bagan supporters also praised the fact that Khabra, an ISL winner with Chennaiyin in 2015, played for as many as seven years with a single Indian football club, a rare phenomenon in Indian football.