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Before moving to India, the 23-year-old Cassido played for Thinadhoo Sports Club in the Maldivian Premier League. During his tenure there, he was instrumental in guiding the team to a fourth-place finish and a semifinal appearance in the President's Cup.
Reflecting on his move, Ivan Cassido shared his excitement, stating, \"I am thankful to the Almighty and want to extend my gratitude to Mr. Ranjit Bajaj, Madam Hina Bajaj, and Trebol Sports International for all their hard work on this contract. Having watched clips of the I-League, I'm really impressed by the intensity and quality of the game here, and I'm thrilled to be part of such a competitive environment.\"
Ranjit Bajaj, the owner of Minerva Punjab FC, indicated that Cassido could be available to feature in this Saturday's I-League clash against Indian Arrows.
The club has high expectations for what Cassido will bring to the team:
As the current I-League champions, Minerva Punjab is hoping that the addition of Cassido, coming from his successful stint with Thinadhoo in the Maldives, will provide the spark needed to turn their poor run of form around.
A primary objective for signing Ivan Cassido is to solidify the defense for Minerva's Asian venture in the AFC Champions League qualifiers against Iranian side Sepahan. The management believes that even if the domestic league campaign remains difficult, Cassido's presence will ensure a more robust defensive performance on the continental stage.