The I-League is finally back and Bengaluru FC are set to defend their title in what is arguably one of the most anticipated seasons in recent years. The league has seen the number of teams reduce every season but the 2017 campaign sees an even number of teams competing again as 10 clubs vie for the trophy.
The Blues arrived on the scene in 2013 and have taken Indian football by storm, winning the league twice and finishing as runners-up once by a whisker to Mohun Bagan. The club also made history after becoming the first Indian club to reach the AFC Cup final, finishing as runners-up last year.
As the top clubs resume hostilities once again, we look at five players who will be instrumental to Bengaluru FC’s ambitions this season.
5) Amrinder Singh (Goalkeeper)
Bengaluru FC have had different goalkeepers every season in the last three editions of the I-League. Pawan Kumar's heroics helped the club win the league title in their debut season while Lalthuammawia Ralte was error-prone in the season they lost the title to Mohun Bagan.
Ashley Westwood then brought in Amrinder Singh last season on loan from Pune. A towering goalkeeper compared to Kumar and Ralte (both of whom were less than six feet tall), Amrinder quickly relegated Ralte to the bench and secured his spot between the sticks with defiant performances last year.
Still in his early 20s, Amrinder never seemed perturbed by the hustle-bustle in the box and exuded a certain calm when danger was close. His saves were pivotal and his reach in the air crucial on set pieces. No wonder then that he finished with nine clean sheets (in a 16-game campaign) in the league, taking home the award for the I-League’s Best Goalkeeper.
Amrinder was sorely missed when a suspension prevented him from playing in the AFC Cup final. Having made his move permanent, he will be looking to build a career at the club and possibly follow in the footsteps of India’s no.1 – Gurpreet Singh Sandhu – who managed to get a contract at a European club.
4) John Johnson (Centre Back)
Bengaluru FC have had a number of foreign players don the blue shirt ever since the club’s inception but only John Johnson has survived to remain a core member of the squad. His partner of three years Curtis Osano was released by the club following a decline in performances but the tall English defender has gone from strength to strength.
Arguably one of the bravest players on the pitch, Johnson is not one to shy away from putting his body on the line when needed. A veritable threat on set pieces, the six-footer is as sturdy as they come. Comfortable with the ball at his feet, he also has a keen eye to spot the runs of his teammates on the flanks.
In an ever-changing back four for the Blues, Johnson has been the one constant that has seen it all and done it all. And with Spanish defender Juanan now his centre-back partner, Albert Roca has a strong rear guard in the box.
3) Eugeneson Lyngdoh (Midfielder)
Two seasons ago, Eugeneson Lyngdoh walked away with the Midfielder of the Year award. It was his first season with the club and his set-piece delivery proved to be one of Bengaluru FC’s most potent weapon.
The Shillong-born midfielder has easily been one of the club’s greatest signings. The playmaker is a treat to watch on the ball and he has an eagle-eye vision on the counter-attack. Opponents give him space at their own peril and he is usually one of the first players to be marked. Lyngdoh is not only a terrific provider but has an eye for goal that is unparalleled in the Bengaluru side.
The Blues struggled without him in midfield when he suffered a foot injury early in the season. But the timing of his return could not have been better. As the Blues tried to reel in Mohun Bagan in the title race, they found themselves a goal down to East Bengal at the Kanteerava Stadium. It was his goal that sparked a remarkable comeback that saw the Blues eventually win – his most memorable moment of the season, according to him.
He was also instrumental in the AFC Cup with a long range effort against defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim in the semi-finals. The away goal eventually helped the I-League club advance to the final.
This season, he has the experienced Cameron Watson alongside him in midfield and a host of Indian players such as new signing Lenny Rodrigues and Alwyn George looking to work with him in midfield.
2) CK Vineeth (Forward)
Having signed him from Prayag United, Bengaluru found one of the hardest-working players on the pitch. Capable of leading the line and playing on the flank, Vineeth is a key player even off the ball. The 28-year-old is the first player to press opponents and force them to turn over possession, soon sprinting away to get on the end of a counter-attack.
The Kerala-born forward impressed the club’s coaches enough to get a two-year contract and he was the second-highest goalscorer for the Blues last season. He was only one of three Bengaluru players to score in all three competitions – the I-League, the AFC Cup and the Federation Cup.
Although he has laughed off comparisons with another Kerala legend IM Vijayan, one can see why he is a venerated figure in the state. Following Bengaluru FC’s AFC Cup campaign, he joined Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters and his goals saw the south Indian side storm their way to the final.
5 goals, many of them late in the game to give Kerala all three points, saw him enjoy his time in front of his people. Now, his aim is to help Bengaluru defend their I-League title.
1) Sunil Chhetri (Forward)
Was there any other doubt who Bengaluru FC’s key player would be? None other than the club’s top goalscorer last season – Sunil Chhetri.
The captain had a season to forget with Mumbai City in the Indian Super League and will be looking to find the back of the net again as he trades one blue shirt for another.
Last season saw a transformation of sorts for Chhetri. While he did score nine goals, he was no longer the main goal threat. Yes, he did score a number of crucial goals when the going got tough, but he had also turned provider playing from the left flank.
At the end of last season, he professed the philosophy of sharing the goalscoring burden – a key factor in Bengaluru FC’s success. However, he is a few goals shy of a personal landmark. Indeed, Chhetri could well and truly be the first player to score 50 goals in all competitions for the Blues.
But his first and foremost goal will be to captain the side to the I-League trophy once again and go one step further in Asia.
