Ranti Martins: Striker Par Excellence

Never in the history of Indian football has one club owed so much to one man as Dempo are beholden to their lean, lithe and lanky Nigerian striker Ranti Martins Soleye. He joined them in the 2004-05 season and during his eight year stint has helped Dempo become national league champions on five occasions, 2004-05 and 2006-07 (National Football league) and the first, third and fifth I-League titles.

He excelled in each of these five victories. In 2004-05 he scored 15 of the 28 goals scored by his club. Again when his team won the 11^th NFL in 2006-07, he was top scorer for Dempo with 16 goals. Dempo won the inaugural I-League title on goal difference from Churchill Brothers and as usual Ranti scored the most goals netting 12 out of a tally of 35. Again this year when Dempo emerged champions for the fifth time, Ranti was the league’s leading marksman with 31 goals. Overall he has scored 145 goals in the NFL/I-League, the highest by any player. Thrice he has been the overall top-scorer in 2005-06 with 15 goals, in 2010-11 with 30 goals and this season with 31 goals.

His consistent ability to score decisive goals in crucial matches has been vital for his team’s success. His crisp knee height shots, placements and sudden speed helped him score decisive goals. He scored twice in Dempo’s 2-1 victories over both Mahindra United (Round 3 away match) and Mohun Bagan (Round 5 home match). His finest hour came on 25 February 2005 in a Round 10 home match against reigning champions East Bengal with super stars Baichung Bhutia, Alvito D’ Cunha and Syed Rahim Nabi in their playing eleven. Undefeated East Bengal was on a roll having won six matches in a row and was topping the table with 21 points. Some of Dempo’s first eleven players missed this vital match due to injury, making East Bengal favourites to win. However, Ranti with his first hat-trick on Indian soil helped Dempo win 3-2. His close control, lethal finish and sudden burst of speed helped Dempo overcome the holders and the Ranti Martins legend was born.

It is no wonder that Dempo’s celebrations after winning the recently concluded 5^th I-League has been muted, as it is believed that Ranti may accept a lucrative offer from Prayag United and shift base to Kolkata for the next season. Ranti has fitted in so well to Dempo’s pass and move style of play that finding a replacement will be an uphill task. Above all Ranti is a consummate team-man and has adjusted with all his partners, Chidi Edeh (2007-08), Mboyo Iyomi(2008-09) and Sunil Chettri (2009-10).

Like many Nigerian footballers, Ranti came from humble origins. He was born on 5 September 1986 in Lagos, the economic capital of Nigeria, the third son in a family of five children, consisting of four boys and a girl. Nicknamed “petite” by those who were close to him, he lost his father when he was just four years old. Life became a struggle after that and Ranti’s mother worked day and night to look after and bring up her children. Ranti was enrolled in African Church Central Primary school in Agege, Lagos and learnt his football there.

After school he joined Anwar Ul Islam College, Agege, Lagos and excelled in both academics and football. His family wanted him to prepare for the Civil Service examinations but his passion for football triumphed. He started his professional football career with King Faisal FC in Ghana. In his first season he suffered a career threatening injury and returned to Lagos for proper medical treatment.

Sheer determination helped him return to peak fitness. Competition in Nigerian football clubs was stiff and so Ranti again went abroad to ply his trade as a professional in the tiny Republic of Benin. He played for a club in their capital Dahomey.

His passage to India was more by accident than design. Seasoned Nigerian defender Majeck Bolaji, an established defender in Dempo SC was back home for his end of season break. He saw Ranti play in some trial matches and felt he would be an asset in Indian club football. He alerted the Dempo club officials, who promptly responded and so Ranti came to India for trials.

A precocious teenager Ranti arrived in Goa, full of hope. Dempo took his trials in October 2004 and promptly signed him. That was the year Dempo were an attacking unit with Clifford Miranda and ex-international R.C. Prakash providing width and thrust on the flanks. They had just signed the supremely talented Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior from East Bengal. Sadly, Cristiano could only play few matches for Dempo that season as he expired after a dangerous collision with goalkeeper Subrata Paul in the Federation Cup final against Mohun Bagan in Bangalore on 5 December.

Ranti first appeared for Dempo in the 117^th Durand tournament in 2004 and scored his first goal on Indian soil on Nov. 4, helping his team overcome Tata Football Academy (TFA) by 2-1 in a quarter final group league match. In the Durand football tournament, clubs were only allowed to use two foreigners. Coach Armando Colaco wisely decided to rest the established star Cristiano Junior and test Ranti’s match temperament. A shocking decision but the astute Armando had long term plans, took the gamble and the rest as they say is history.

Initially Armando had thought that Ranti would be a substitute striker and get groomed by playing alongside the classy Cristiano Junior. However after the Brazilian’s untimely death, the onus was on Ranti to score goals. He thrived with responsibility and developed as a lethal striker in his first season in India. He has adapted well to the Indian environment. He relaxes by humming Hindi film songs and watching Bollywood movies.