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The I-League 2017-18 saw a breathtaking finish, where Minerva Punjab FC became the champions of this edition, their top of the table finish followed by NEROCA FC, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal FC.
Minerva Punjab, consisting mostly of home-grown players, won 11, lost 5 and drew 2 which earned them 35 points from 18 matches.
The I-League 2017-18 saw its fair deal of foreign players who made an impact on the tournament with their flashy play and goal-scoring brilliance. Let us take a look at the top foreign players with most goals in this competition:
#5 Katsumi Yusa
The 29-year-old Japanese midfielder ended up scoring 6 goals in this edition of the I-league for East Bengal FC. The former Mohun Bagan player signed on the dotted lines for the red and gold brigade this season; he made some eye-catching run through the flanks and won the hearts of the supporters with his mesmerizing skills.
Katsumi Yusa dipped his feet in Indian football for the first time with ONGC back in 2011; he spent 4 seasons with Mohun Bagan and enjoyed his career with them, winning the league in 2015. Yusa also has experience in the ISL - he played for NorthEast United FC in 2016, where he scored the winning goal against Kerala Blasters FC.
#4 Chencho Gyeltshen
The 21-year-old Bhutanese winger is not a new name of late in Indian football, and he clinched the title with Minerva Punjab FC in this edition of the I-League.
Chencho Gyeltshen scored 7 goals for the Punjab based team and his pacy runs down the wings gave many defenders a nightmare.
Being welcomed into the I-League with a trophy in his first season with Indian football must be giving him a lot of confidence for the Super Cup. He also plays for the Bhutan national team, where he has scored 10 goals in 28 appearances. The football fans will be expecting much more from the youngster in the upcoming days.
#3 Felix Odili Chidi
The Nigerian forward scored 7 goals for NEROCA FC in this edition of I-league and helped them finish in the second spot at the table, with 32 points from 18 games. Chidi helped in promoting NEROCA FC from I-League second division with 9 goals, and as a result, he has been a vital player in the squad since last season.
Felix Chidi started his journey in India with Vasco, an outfit in the Goa Professional League, and since then he has moved to various clubs in Goa as well as the I-League second division.
#2 Dudu Omagbemi
The veteran forward from Nigeria took the I-League by storm where he scored 8 goals after signing for East Bengal FC in the mid-season, which included 4 goals against Chennai City FC.
Dudu started his career in India with Sporting clube de Goa in 2001 and even became the league top scorer. He has experience in both European football as well as in Indian Super League with Chennaiyin FC.
East Bengal finished in the fourth place of the table with 31 points from 18 games, and they will be counting on Dudu for their next journey in the Super Cup.
#1 Dipanda Dicka
The 29-year-old Cameroonian forward is the highest goal scorer for the second consecutive time in the I-League. Dicka netted 13 goals for Mohun Bagan in his first season with the team; he scored a brace against arch-rival East Bengal which won the hearts of the fans in the Kolkata derby.
Dipanda Dicka started his career in Indian football with DSK Shivajians in 2015 and after one season, he signed for Shillong Lajong FC and became the highest goal scorer in the competition. He moved to the Calcutta Football League the next season, before returning to the I-League with Mohun Bagan.
Mohun Bagan finished third in the race with 31 points from 18 games, and they will be gearing up for the Super Cup next. Their fortunes in this tournament will have Dicka at its centre for certain.
