East Bengal midfielder Cavin Lobo is elated to join former club head coach Trevor James Morgan at Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters for the second edition of the lucrative league.
The 27-year-old Goan lad, regarded as one of the most underrated players in Indian football at the moment, started his career in East Bengal under Morgan and soon went on to become a crowd favourite.
Lobo has also been one of the better Indian players in the ISL last season as the playmaker – despite not featuring in a lot of games – and proved to be influential as he played an integral part in Atletico de Kolkata's campaign to finish as the champions.
Notwithstanding that, the ISL 2014 champions didn't retain him. The decision might not have gone down with Lobo, but he preferred not to feel bad about it and rather look forward to the new challenge.
"No not really [feeling bad to not be with ATK]. I know the situation. I spoke to the management of the club. It's just that I wasn't getting a chance to play and that I was not comfortable. I did not get the chance to prove myself," Lobo told Goal India.
Lobo made his mark with ATK last year as his two goals helped the Sourav Ganguly co-owned side come back from being a goal down to win full points in an away fixture in Goa.
The Red-and-Golds midfielder is now looking ahead to his new assignment with the Sachin Tendulkar-owned ISL franchisee and is excited to be re-united with English coach Trevor Morgan.
"Yes. I am absolutely delighted. He knows me better than anyone else. He's a good coach and knows a lot about players in India. I'm more comfortable playing under him than anyone else," he said.
Lobo featured in six games last season and already has the distinction of being the first Indian player to score two goals in a single ISL match.
The second edition of the ISL is round the corner and Lobo is confident ahead of the start.
"Nothing is difficult. We just have to listen to the coach and management's instructions to give our best," he said.
Blasters open their campaign against NorthEast United FC on 6 October in a home game.
Meanwhile, the other players who the Kerala-based ISL side has bought from the domestic player draft this year includes Shankar Sampingiraj, Peter Carvalho, and CK Vineeth.