#5 Mohammad Rafique
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Readers’ Ranking – 3
Rafique is a kind of midfielder that has not been seen too often in Indian football in the recent past. He has a cultured right foot and is very comfortable in possession of the ball. The problem with India is that far too often recently, the midfielders have been combative and energetic but couldn’t produce the quality with the ball at their feet.
Rafique is different and he showed that throughout the year, be it with East Bengal or with the Kerala Blasters.
He played 12 games in the I-League and was among the first names on the teamsheet of both Biswajit Bhattacharya and Trevor Morgan. But it was the ISL where Rafique had his better performances of the year.
He didn’t start every game in the ISL, but when he came on as a substitute, he always had the impact that Coppell desired.
An additional plus for Rafique is his composure from the penalty spot. Both of Kerala’s knockout games in the ISL went to a penalty shootout, and Rafique was given the responsibility in both. In both cases, the response was similar, as he rolled the ball into the back of the net, sending the keeper the wrong way.
