ISL 2017: 5 I-League stars who deserve a spot in Indian Super League sides

The Indian football season has started in full flow. It is for the first time we are witnessing both the ISL and the I-League running parallelly. There was a lot of confusion regarding the status of both the leagues and truth be told, there is still no clarity regarding what is actually what.

On paper, the I-League is the premier club tournament in the country, with the winners getting the prestigious AFC Champions League playoff spots. The ISL winners, on the other hand, will be awarded the AFC Cup playoff spot.

While analysing the leagues in terms of success and revenue, the ISL beats the I-League in all aspects from television ratings to money generated from sponsors.

Though most of the star players, be it Indian or foreign have joined the ISL bandwagon we take a look at 5 players who are playing the I-League, but could easily have featured in the ISL this season.

#1 Sony Norde (Mohun Bagan)

The Haitian is nothing sort of a legend in Indian football. He has helped Mohun Bagan win the prestigious I-League and the Federation Cup. He has also played for Mumbai City FC in the ISL for two seasons the 2015 and 2016 editions. Sony Norde has 4 goals to his name in the ISL and more than that he was a menace down the left flank for Mumbai. He had a big role to play in ensuring Mumbai finished top of the table after the end of the league stages of the tournament last season. His partnership with Diego Forlan was also something the people of Mumbai enjoyed a lot.

For the fans of Mohun Bagan Sony Norde is the equivalent to God. He is literally worshipped by many and the status quo that he enjoys in Kolkata is unmatched. Mohun Bagan broke the bank to get his signature for this season’s I-League, after offering him a sum of around Rs 2.2 crore. ISL clubs like Mumbai City FC and newbies Jamshedpur FC had also been in the race to get his signature, but Norde signed on the dotted lines for the Green and Maroons due to the support and respect he gets from his fans in Mohun Bagan.

#2 Katsumi Yusa

The Fukushima bomber is the name by which Katsumi Yusa is usually referred to as. This Japanese midfielder is a veteran in Indian Football and has played in the country for 7 years (this is his 8th season in Indian football). Yusa came to India to play for the institutional side ONGC in the I League and then later went on to join Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan before shifting allegiance to the red and gold brigade this season.

Katsumi is mainly known for his hard work and dedication. His sudden burst of speed is also something fans of Indian football are accustomed to seeing. Katsumi played for NorthEast United FC last season, and was also the first goal scorer of the 2016 edition after he led NorthEast to an opening day victory over Kerala Blasters.

#3 Md Rafique

Rewind your memories to the finals of the first ISL . ATK were playing Kerala Blasters in Mumbai, and around the 70 minute mark ATK coach Antonio Habas decided to bring in Md. Rafique in place of Md. Rafi. Rafique had just played one game before the finals that too for some minutes and he was bought on, in the finals. Well, the rest, as they say, is history, as Jakub Podany swung in an out-swinging corner to which Rafique leapfrogged above everyone and got his head to the ball to score the championship-winning goal for ATK. Rafique also scored the winning penalty for the Kerala Blasters last season in the semi final against Delhi.

Rafique has been one of the most famous Indian names in the ISL along with Jeje, Sunil Chhetri and Balwant Singh. While the likes of Jeje and Chhetri have decided to play for the ISL, Rafique decided to play out his contract at East Bengal. Rafique is one Indian player the fans of the ISL will be missing.

#4 Arnab Mondal

Arnab is a two time ISL winner with ATK. From Tiri to Josemi, to Jose Molina to Antonio Lopez Habbas all have praised Arnab for his anticipation and technical abilities as a defender. He was also a prime factor for ATK having one of the best defences in the league. Arnab was also a regular India national team player and lost his spot only recently to Anas Edathodika after he suffered a knee injury.

Arnab too, like Rafique, decided to stay loyal to his club East Bengal and see through his contract. He is one such player who can barge into the starting eleven of any Indian Super League teams. Arnab playing in the I-League will be a huge miss for the ISL and fans would love to see him back in the league next year.

#5 Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem

Enter capt — Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, the Indian Arrows goalkeeper

Even though Jeakson Singh scored India’s first goal in a FIFA tournament, it was Dheeraj, the goalkeeper of India's FIFA U17 World Cup squad, who became a national hero during and after the world cup. Dheeraj's acrobatic saves made the world take notice of this young Goalkeeper’s powers.

With clubs like Borussia Mönchengladbach, Sydney United, and Motherwell showing interest in Dheeraj it looks like the teenager is destined for European shores in the near future.

There was a lot of confusion regarding which club Dheeraj would sign for before the start of the Indian football season, a lot of the ISL team offered him astronomical amounts to lure him away from the Indian Arrows project, but Dheeraj decided to stay with the I-League club for the time being as they guaranteed him a starting spot and proper game time, which the other clubs couldn’t.

Dheeraj's decision to play the I-League dented the hopes of the ISL fans, as they wished to see one of the rising stars of the country play in their favourite league.

Edited by Soumo Ghosh