With the end of the extravagant football fiesta, ISL 2016, all football zealots of the country have now turned their eyes towards I-League. Ten teams are all set to duke it out for the most prestigious silverware of football in the nation.
Defending champions Bengaluru FC will put the title on the line against nine other contingencies, those include the likes of last time runners-up Mohun Bagan, Kolkata stalwarts, East Bengal, veterans from Goa, Churchill Brothers, young guns from Pune, DSK Shivajians, boys from Mumbai, Mumbai FC, strapping lads from the highlands, Aizawl FC and the experienced ones who also stem from the hills, Shillong Lajong.
There are two debutants in the league this time. They are Chennai City, hailing all the way from their namesake state, Chennai. There is Minerva Punjab, who hails from Chandigarh.
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Now we are going to take a dig at the profile of each and every team who are all set to joust for the ultimate glory in the league format of the game.
Bengaluru FC:
Owned and managed by a Mumbai-based company, JSW Group, Bengaluru FC has been the only club in India to win the I-league in their debut season. They vaunt a prestigious structure and they have also promised to be an inexorable force to be reckoned with.
After their latest blue-ribbon performance in AFC Cup where they ended up being the runners-up and became the solitary Indian team to feature in the finals of the tournament, they will look forward to continuing with the same spirit from where they left last season.
One of the most striking features for Bengaluru this season will be the preamble of their new Spanish preceptor, Albert Roca Pujol. Following in the footsteps of the outgoing British coach, Ashley Westwood, Roca is entering the club. The Spaniard has been the assistant manager of clubs like Galatasaray and Barcelona. The fans would love to see him taking Bengaluru FC to greater heights.
Barring the coach, the team has the likes of Amrinder Singh under the woodwork. He was recently adjudged as the goalkeeper of the tournament in ISL 2016. With a tall and burly physique, he can be one invincible bulwark to be breached in the fray.
Another major moniker that will be doing the rounds for Bengaluru will be their signing of Spanish defender, Juanan. With massive experience under his belt, he has arrived in India to bolster the rearguard of BFC which already has the likes of John Johnson.
As mentioned, Johnson is going to be one player on whom BFC will have their eyes set to thwart the coups of their oppositions.
Barring these names, one of the most imperative factors, which makes BFC a very strong contender for the championship is the inclusion of those Indian players who took ISL by storm. The names include Rino Anto, Keegan Pereira, Eugenson Lyngdoh, Seminlen Doungel, Beikhokhei Beingaichho, Sena Ralte, Alwyn George and many others, whose united efforts give the team an aura of invincibility.
Finally, the name that all Indians will look forward to score goals is the Indian skipper, Sunil Chettri. He didn’t have much luck in ISL 2016 and will be famished for redemption. The day he fires can be an excruciatingly bad day for his opponents.
Mohun Bagan:
After missing out the precursor edition of the I-League by whiskers to Bengaluru FC, Bagan staged a strong comeback as they went on to notch up their 14th Federation Cup, India’s biggest knock-out competition in football.
With Sanjay Sen at the helm of affairs, Bagan has the likes of Sony Norde, Eduardo Ferreira, Katsumi Yusa and Darryl Duffy in their quota of overseas players.
Sony Norde has been an absolute phenomenon for the last two seasons, right since his inception in Indian football. With his breakneck speed down the left wing and with his dribbling and ball control prowess laced with his shooting ability, he can spell catastrophe for his opponents on any given day.
Darryl Duffy has an ocean of experience under his belt. A bloke who was quite a sensation in his Hull City, Swansea City and Bristol Rovers days, discerns the net very well. Known for using his burly physique to the fullest and his eagle-eye in the d-box, he can be a vicious striker.
Katsumi Yusa has been the livewire for Bagan in their midfield for the past three years. He is well-known for his energy and his volition to take unfathomable workload on his shoulders.
Bagan also has the likes of Prabir Das, Raju Gaikwad, Anas Edathodika and Sarthak Golui in their defence. All well-built defenders with a finesse of making overlaps down the wing whenever needed, augments an aura of viciousness to the side.
India’s goal-machine Jeje Lalpekhlua is also in Bagan. With his goal spree for the national side and for Chennaiyin FC, he is the marksman who will have all eyes set on him when Mohun Bagan takes the field.
Kingfisher East Bengal:
One of the most consistent teams from Bengal in recent days has been East Bengal. Managed by Trevor James Morgan, they are all set to mount a challenge for the title against the other outfits.
One of the best and most consistent players for East Bengal has been Arnab Mondal, who is currently also the vanguard for the Indian defence. He also came out with flying colours for ATK in the recently concluded ISL. With his intercepting ability and strength in aerial duels, he is not someone against whom the opposition strikers will like to have a tryst with.
Barring Arnab Mondal, East Bengal brags about an invincible defence with players like Narayan Das, Rahul Bheke, Robert Lalthlamuana, Anwar Ali and Ivan Bukenya who can put an impregnable wall to make inroads against.
One of the major striking forces for East Bengal will be their latest foreign recruit, Wedson Anselme. He was roped in from Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi, one of the leading clubs of Bangladesh. His striking ability and trenchant passing in the attacking third makes him a linchpin in the club’s attack.
The Indian brigade is also going to add to the strength of this team as there are players like Jackichand Singh, Romeo Fernandes, Rowlin Borges, Abhinash Ruidas, Bikash Jairu and Cavin Lobo who are experienced campaigners of the game.
East Bengal was within inches of the title in the precursor edition and will definitely do a lot more to mount a challenge for it again.
Churchill Brothers:
Champion for a couple of times and runners-up for a couple of times within a short span of time in I-League, Churchill Brothers were one of the most feared forces in India until a couple of years back.
However, there was a slump in their form in the last two years. The club lost their sheen and was nowhere near to the glory it has bragged about in the past few years.
Churchill still hasn’t got big names to brag about for this edition of I-League. They will resort to their foreign recruit, Anthony Wolfe, who did exude promise in his stint with Sporting Club Goa in the previous edition of the league.
Despite not having a strong side at their disposal, Churchill on any given day can be a menace for their opponents as they are known for their passing football and one of their most striking features for them is their ability to score at any point of time.
The dicey side of them makes them quite a tough team to deal with and an iota of drabness from their opponents will see a different result in seconds.
Shillong Lajong:
Shillong Lajong bring in speed and agility to the league. Always known for their indomitable stamina, this team has an enigmatic presence in the field. With players like Chinglensana Singh, Robin Gurung, Aiborlang Khongjee and Yusuke Yamagata, the defence is always going to be an airtight one.
To annexe to that will be the experience of Brazilian players, Uilliams Souza Silva and Fabio Pena. They have quite a reputation in scoring goals.
Uilliams positions himself impeccably and can flip in half chances at will, which gives him the edge over his opponents. His crisp and precise finishes, always make him a dangerous player.
The young brigade of this team also has promising players like Boithang Haokip and Milan Basumatary whose runs down the centre gives an incisive edge to the team.
DSK Shivajians:
One of the most promising young brigades of the country, Shivajians didn’t do much in their first coup at I-League. However, they comprise a lot of budding talents, blended with years of experience from players like Subrata Paul, Juan Quero, Sanju Pradhan and Nirmal Chettri.
Paul known as one of the best goalkeepers in the country is quite agile and flexible under the woodwork. He is quite an effective shot-stopper too. With him will chip in players like Nirmal Chettri and Sanju Pradhan who have been quite instrumental in renowned Indian clubs.
Shivajians also vaunt about players from the national team like Holicharan Narzary and Sumeet Passi, whose efficacy in the national side has proved fatal to their opponents. Eyes will definitely be on them as they will lock horns with the best to prove a point.
Aizawl FC:
After an abysmal performance in the last edition of I-League, Aizawl would be hell-bent to prove that they are here to stay. Constituted by the pushing lads from the highlands this team has the capability to go the mile if given proper guidance.
With Alfred Jaryan leading the charge, a lot will depend on him, when the team will look to fire home a few goals to defend. Their vitality makes them quite a difficult side to play with.
A player like Lalnunpuia is quite a menace to other teams due to his lightning fast turns and quick and swift movements across the field. He at times showboats acrobatic volleys and even long rangers to probe his oppositions, some of which has actually been a nightmare for a lot.
Despite the fact that the team hasn’t got big names at their disposal, they have still got one astute bloke at the helm of their affairs. He goes by the name of Khalid Jamil.
Khalid Jamil carried Mumbai FC on his shoulders and his technical brilliance for his side, made Mumbai FC one of the most fearsome sides of the fray. Time will divulge, whether things will be the same with Aizawl FC.
Chennai City FC:
Being a debutant, Chennai City FC will have a lot to unfold when they cross swords with the best of Indian football. With a couple of Brazilians in their repertoire, they will try to put up a decent performance in their first essay.
With veterans of the game laced with a gust of young players, this team will try their best to prove their worth in the league.
Experienced players like Zakeer Mundampara, Dhanraj Ravanan, and Karanjit Singh will stoke up the young guns to challenge the big names of the game.
With all the local experience that the club has garnered over the past 67 years, they will try to put up a decent performance at the biggest rostrum.
Minerva Punjab:
With veteran footballer Manandeep Singh being roped in, Minerva would love to display diligence with the gentry. Known for his defense-splitting passes, Manandeep Singh can also shoot the ball from a fair distance.
Joel Sunday is another experienced campaigner for the Punjab-based team and will look to induce his experience for the new side.
With a major signing still to be done, Punjab will likely hold up their cards until the end to be an ace up the sleeve.
Mumbai FC:
Mumbai FC was one of the strongest forces to be reckoned with when they started their I-League campaign in the year 2008. That was their best essay in all the I-Leagues that they have participated in so far. They finished at the 7th position.
Mumbai FC is known for their strong base of Mumbai-based players, which they have managed to retain for 8 long years.
Veterans like Ashutosh Mehta, Cletus Paul, Clyde Fernandes, Thoi Singh, Steven Dias, Jayesh Rane, Chinta Rao can be very imperative for Mumbai to mount a title challenge.
Steven Dias is one of the most experienced campaigners for Mumbai. He can be tagged as one of the marksmen for Mumbai as he can swing in the set-pieces from anywhere. While playing for the nation, he was cheered with a very famous adage, which at one point of time was used to greet Beckham, “Bend it like Dias”. At 33 his agility is noteworthy and he conflates that with his long rangers and runs down the middle.
The trio of Clyde Fernandes, Allan Dias and Chinta Rao can be an impregnable wall for Mumbai FC. They have come out with flying colours in previous occasions as well. With a major foreigner still to be roped in, this team can indeed be a tough nut to crack when they take the field again.
