Left-back Jerry put pen to paper on the eve of his 22nd birthday (Wednesday), with the club making the announcement on his special day (Thursday). “Chennai has been my second home since I joined CFC as an 18-year-old. After four years with the club, I can’t think of wearing anything other than the Chennaiyin blue,” Jerry, who broke into the CFC first team under Italian Marco Materazzi in ISL 2016, told DT Next.

“I have experienced a championship win (in 2017-18) and final heartbreak (in 2019-20) with this club. And, I am thrilled to have extended my stay with the CFC family, whose objective is to bring home the ISL trophy for a third time,” he added. Since making his ISL debut in Season 3, Mizoram-based youngster Jerry has turned out 65 times for Chennaiyin across all competitions.

The India international said he has had an incredible time at the club thus far. “CFC has always maintained a balance between improving and getting results on the pitch. I have had the great fortune of playing under three top coaches in Materazzi, John Gregory and Owen Coyle. I have also had the opportunity to line up alongside some experienced teammates, especially in defence,” he stated.

Jerry has been a mainstay in the backline of Chennaiyin, which finished second to title-winner ATK in ISL 2019-20. The full-back emphasised that CFC would fight for top honours in the next edition of India’s premier football competition that will kick off later this year.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t deliver a third ISL title last time out. But, the club’s fighting spirit has always shown and we will go again. As far as the upcoming season is concerned, it can’t come soon enough (for me)!” Jerry, who made 14 appearances in the ISL 6 campaign, assured the club’s faithful.

Currently, Jerry has been largely restricted to his home owing to the COVID- 19 pandemic – the virus which has taken the world by storm. Talking about life in difficult circumstances like these, he said: I have thankfully been able to spend quality time with my family, which has always been in short supply for sportspersons. With things slowly opening up (in Mizoram), I have been spending some time outdoors with my friends in a socially responsible manner.”