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Defending champions Atletico de Kolkata couldn’t get past the semi-finals this season where they lost to Chennaiyin FC. They were favourites to win the tournament again but would have been disappointed to not reach the finals after performing quite well during the group stages.
Atletico finished 2nd in the group stages, but lost 3-0 in the first leg of the semi-finals against Chennaiyin FC, and a 2-1 win in Kolkata wasn’t enough to take them to the finals. They have been unlucky this season with injuries, as they had too many players in the treatment room throughout the season, but if there was one player who was always available and performing brilliantly, it was Canadian striker Iain Hume.
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Hume, who was voted as the best player of the inaugural season of the Indian Super League, joined the defending champions at the start of the season from Kerala Blasters, for whom he had scored 5 goals last season. The 32-year-old was a big signing for the defending champions, and fans in Kolkata had huge expectations from him and marquee signing Helder Postiga.
The striker had previously represented the Canadian national team 41 times, scoring six goals, while he has played for English clubs like Leicester City, Tranmere Rovers, Barnsley, Preston North End, Doncaster Rovers, and Fleetwood Town.
The likes of Sameehg Doutie, Arata Izumi also did very well for Atletico de Kolkata, but it all worked well due to the presence of Iain Hume. He turned out to be the signing of the season after he finished the year with 11 goals and 4 assists to his name.
He had a disappointing start to the tournament and went without scoring in the first six games, but regained his form against Mumbai City FC at the D.Y Patil Stadium when he scored a hat-trick. Atletico de Kolkata’s boss Antonio Habas and his staff’s faith in the Canadian striker paid off as he didn’t stop scoring after that and scored 11 goals in his last 10 games.
Hume’s direct running, impressive work rate and clinical finishing proved to a be a nightmare for defenders. He also attracted more fouls than any other player in the Indian Super League this season. After taking seven points from the first three games, Atletico lost their next three games on the bounce, but the Canadian played a key role in taking the team back to winning ways as the Kolkata outfit became the first team to qualify for the playoffs this season.
Hume’s efforts earned his team a few vital points as he scored his first career hat-trick against Mumbai City, then his goal against the Dynamos in Delhi earned Atletico de Kolkata a point. He then netted the winner against Chennaiyin FC in Kolkata, and a goal against FC Goa in a 4-0 win.
He again scored a hat-trick against FC Pune in a 4-1 win at the Salt Lake stadium, but his first half goal against Mumbai City FC couldn’t save his team from a defeat in the last game of the group stages. Hume concluded his season with a stunning volley against Chennaiyin FC in the second leg of their semi-final in Kolkata, which Atletico won 2-1.
Looking back, a lot was expected from Iain Hume, but he definitely exceeded all the expectations and was not only Atletico de Kolkata’s best player of the season, but also one of the best in the Indian Super League. No player in the league has directly involved in more goals (15) than Iain Hume and Stiven Mendoza, which tells you Kerala Blasters made a big mistake by leting him join their direct rivals in the league.
Atletico de Kolkata now should not make the same mistake, and try everything possible to retain their best player. Hume did very well to pull the Atletico team together and ensure that they do well despite the numerous injuries. He made up for the injury-enforced absence of marquee player and star forward Helder Postiga and showed the leadership necessary to guide his team through to the semi-finals.
The champions of the first edition, Atletico showed a different side of theirs as they became a more flamboyant side this season and Hume’s presence was a big part of it.Despite losing in the semi-final, the football they played put a smile on the face of their fans.
