KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club defender Rana Gharami who led Bengal State Football Team to it’s first Santosh Trophy triumph in six years, has received the Special Award in Calcutta Sports Journalists Club’s (CSJC) Annual Prize Distribution Ceremony on Tuesday for his contributions towards the Club as well as state team.

Rana has started his career at Mohun Bagan in 2012/13 season but after sitting out for most of the games he moved to Kalighat Milan Sangha next season. He stayed at Kalighat MS for a couple of seasons and delivered a handful of noteworthy performances which secured him a contract with Mohammedan Sporting Club in 2015.

Possessing good amount of strength and with a no nonsense approach the 25-year-old formed a solid partnership at the back with then club captain Kareem Omolaja Nurain. After Kareem’s departure from the club mid-season Rana grew on his own and became the leader of the Mohammedan Sporting Club backline, making key tackles, interceptions and clearances relentlessly.

Rana was made captain of the Mohammedan Sporting Club in 2016/17 season and under his leadership the Black Panthers became runners-up of Calcutta Football League after eight years before lifting the title in Sikkim Governor’s Gold Cup after 36 years. His consistent performances for Mohammedan Sporting Club did not only earn him a spot in the state team for 71st Santosh Trophy but also chosen to lead the team in the competition where Bengal crowned champions without conceding a single goal in entire final round held at Goa last month.