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Foreigners have always played a determining role in a team’s success in a particular season. All the eleven teams in the I-League are allowed to recruit 4 foreigners each and the quality of foreigners ultimately decides the fate of a side.
The 2013/14 season was no exception as yet again the foreign recruits played a vital role in every team’s performance. Mohun Bagan were emerged victorious after 5 months of prolonged fight and the lion’s share of credit goes to their foreign played who played a stellar role.
Here are the five best foreigners in this season’s Hero I-League.
Sony Norde (Mohun Bagan)
Sony Norde was undoubtedly the best foreign player in this season’s I-League. The Haitian international had joined Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan in this season from Bangladeshi club Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi. Norde had grabbed the attention of Mohun Bagan recruiters last season when he had come to Kolkata in IFA Shield as a part of the Bangladesh contingent. The winger made his debut for Bagan in the Federation Cup and was pretty impressive.
His class was reflected once I-League began. In the club’s debut match against Mumbai FC, Sony Norde had scored the winning goal. Since then the Haitian had managed to net 9 times and provided numerous assists. Some of his goals were eye-catching. He marveled everybody with his skillful moves, speedy runs down the wings and long range goals. He was a determining factor in Bagan’s I-League triumph after 13 years.
Ranti Martins (East Bengal)
The Nigerian is not an unknown face in Indian football. He has been one of the most influential foreigners in the history of National Football League/ I-League. He was the key man upfront for the Red and Gold Brigade. Martins scored 17 goals in this season, bagging his fourth golden boot award. The striker also reached a milestone of 200 goals in the National league and I-League combined. He was exceptional in the East Bengal outfit irrespective of a disappointing performance by his team. Ranti Martins also scored an incredible 5 goals in a game against Dempo SC at Goa.
Katsumi Yusa (Mohun Bagan)
Katsumi Yusa, as commonly known as ‘Fukushima Bomber’ among Mohun Bagan fans formed a stellar partnership with Sony Norde on the flanks. While Norde launched attacks from the left side, the Japanese midfielder operated from the right. Yusa who is predominantly an attacking midfielder was effectively used by Sanjoy Sen on the flanks to utilize his speed.
His speedy runs down the flanks, curling crosses which created numerous opportunities for Bagan this season and his goal scoring ability helped Bagan secure the much elusive title this season. Katsumi had scored 7 goals in the Hero I-league 2014/15 and is undoubtedly one of the best foreign players.
Pierre Boya (Mohun Bagan)
Pierre Boya yet another Mohun Bagan foreign recruit who will be featuring in our list of best foreign players in Hero I-League 2014/15. The Cameroonian international who came to Mohun Bagan this season as their marquee signing found it hard to adjust initially at the club. His performance at the beginning of the season was not at all satisfactory and raised many eyebrows. But as the I-League season progressed, Boya slowly regained shape.
He started displaying his class and ultimately proved to be one of the key members in the Mohun Bagan squad this time around. Pierre Boya managed to score just 2 goals this season, but it would be wrong to analyze his performance on the basis of the number of goals scored. Sanjoy Sen used to field his team in a 4-4-2 formation with Balwant Singh and Pierre Boya upfront.
While the Indian striker played as an out and out forward, Boya was often found tracking back and creating balls from the midfield. All the foreigners who had scored more goals got the limelight but much of Mohun Bagan’s success this season must be credited to the veteran Cameroon international.
Cornell Glen (Shillong Lajong)
Cornell Glen is Shillong Lajong’s marquee signing. He had joined the club last season and since has been the best performer in the North East club. He was the joint top scorer in last season scoring 14 goals and this time he ended on 16 goals just one behind Ranti Martins. The Trinidad and Tobago international has been a talisman for Lajong and helped them in several matches this season.
Glenn has the ability to track back and create chances as well scoring prolifically. Among all marquee signing in the Hero I-League, Glen is the best recruit. At the age of 33 Glen is well past his prime but that does not stop him from scoring goals. He scored a hat-trick for his club in their last match of the season against East Bengal where Lajong won 5-1.
