The third season of the Indian Super League has finally started getting tasty. NorthEast United might be leading the pack, but a win for any of the teams tends to shuffle the pack and cause a change in two to three places in the league table, underlining the competitive nature of the League.
The ISL, over the years, has seen its share of superstars, with sensational performances from the likes of Stiven Mendoza, Iain Hume and Florent Malouda. This season too, we have seen new pretenders to the throne, where newcomers like Matías Defederico and Emiliano Alfaro are impressing, while Borja Fernandez and Nico Velez have continued from where they left off last season.
But, each team has their own silent assassin, the one who acts as a catalyst to the team’s success. They may not get the plaudits, but they are as important to the team as the air they breathe.
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Here is a list of seven unsung heroes in the Indian Super League this season.
#1 Sameehg Doutie
The South African is in his second season with Atletico de Kolkata, and boy is he important. The likes of Iain Hume, Javi Lara and Borja Fernandez seem to get all the limelight (sometimes deservedly so) but Doutie is the one who drives the team.
It is not surprising at all that most of Atletico’s attacks come from the right-hand side of midfield, especially with the kind of delivery the 27-year-old provides regularly into the box. Every time Borja or Tiri have the ball, their first instinct is to switch it to the South African on the right.
Doutie has five goals and six assists in the 17 appearances he has made for the Kolkata franchise, and the numbers show how efficient he has been.
The South African might not be very big and strong, and may not be able to dribble past defenders at will, but he is very intelligent on the ball. He always seems to make the right decision, whether it is putting in a wicked cross into the box or cutting it back to the runner at the edge of the box.
That is why he is indispensable to the Kolkata outfit.
#2 Jayesh Rane
Jayesh Rane is one of the young Indian players who has taken the league by storm. He showed his abilities by popping up to score against Atletico de Kolkata in the first game of the season for defending champions Chennaiyin FC.
Rane, who traditionally plays as a striker for I-League side Mumbai FC has been deployed on the left by Chennaiyin's Italian coach Marco Materazzi, and the youngster has repaid his coach's faith in him. The India U-23 International is one of those who doesn’t let the opposition rest, and very often hassles opponents into making a bad decision.
His quality was there for everyone to see when he calmly took the cross/shot from Jeje and chipped the goalkeeper in one motion.
Jayesh Rane's biggest attribute is his assurance on the ball. Deceptive on the turn and quick to put himself between the defender and the ball, he tends to earn a lot of free-kicks for his team, creating potential goal-scoring opportunities.
#3 Chinglensana Konsham Singh
The 19-year-old from Manipur was called up to the Indian squad for the friendly against Puerto Rico, and it is easy to see why. He has started every single game for the Dynamos and the confidence with which he has operated, easily makes one believe that he has been a senior professional for a long time.
With a full I-League season for Shillong Lajong under his belt, the Tata Football Academy graduate has taken to the Indian Super League like a fish to water. Strong in the tackle, positionally astute and good in the air, it is quite frightening to imagine the potential he has.
He was given a proper run around by Matias Defederico against Mumbai FC but he bounced back with a brilliant display against Atletico de Kolkata, neutralising the threat of Iain Hume and Juan Belencoso.
That display underlined the character and attitude of the Indian U-19 International and showed how important he is to the Delhi Dynamos' coach, Gianluca Zambrotta's plans.
#4 Krisztián Vadócz
The Hungarian international is a proper number six in every sense of the position. He played the first ISL season with Pune City FC but didn’t really manage to make a strong impression back then.
Making his return to the league this season, he has been colossal for Mumbai City this season. With coach Alexandre Guimarães electing to play a diamond in midfield in most games, Vadocz is exactly what is needed at the base of that diamond.
Intelligent on the ball, and possessing a cultured left-foot with the ability to orchestrate the tempo of the game, he allows the likes of Pronay Halder and Boithang Haokip to showcase their natural ability and play on the front foot.
An aspect of his game which maybe gets swept under the rug is his ability to convert from set pieces, as was evident when he scored a brace for Mumbai City FC in their game against Delhi Dynamos.
#5 Prabir Das
When Atletico de Kolkata started the season, the left back position was looked at by many as an area of concern. Keegan Pereira was yet to join the squad, as he was (is) still in the AFC Cup with Bengaluru FC.
Enter Prabir Das, with his shock of blond hair. The Indian U-23 international has played as a right-back all his career (and sometimes in midfield), but the Mohun Bagan man has impressed one and all with his fiery defending as a left-back.
Fast, enthusiastic and with a hunger to win the ball back early, he has been called the Bengali Maldini in many quarters. Along with Pritam Kotal, he has a constant in the Atletico defence that has conceded only four goals this season.
#6 Mehrajuddin Wadoo
The 32-year-old from Srinagar is the epitome of the phrase ‘cool as a cucumber’. Being asked to captain the Chennaiyin side when you have the likes of Bernard Mendy and John Arne Riise on the same team is quite a compliment.
He might not be the most adventurous of full-backs, but he is wily as a fox. He uses his body brilliantly against wingers and is a neat passer of the ball.
Wadoo also has a good shot on him, which was seen earlier this season when he scored with a long-ranger that was too powerful for FC Goa's defence to handle, as the ball deflected into the goal.
Sir Alex Ferguson once famously said that Denis Irwin was the most valuable player in his squad, we wouldn’t bet against Marco Materazzi saying the same about his captain.
#7 Koffi Christian N'dri (Romaric)
NorthEast United sit pretty at the top of the league with Nico Velez and Holicharan Narzary getting a lot of plaudits for their support of the main man, Alfaro, up top. However, it has been Romaric who has run the show for the Highlanders.
A free kick anywhere from 20 to 40 yards and the Ivorian is the designated expert to deliver the ball. Romaric, who has played for Spanish sides like Sevilla, Real Zaragoza and Espanyol, has had nine shots on target in the six games he has played this season, the most for a midfielder in the league.
His work-rate and willingness to help the defence cannot be undermined as well, and Romaric is one who is always willing to the dirty work for his team.
Rowllin Borges may have impressed in playing the role of the anchorman in front of the defence, but the 33-year-old Ivorian has made as much a contribution in making the Highlanders the most miserly defence in the League(having let in only 3 goals).
