I-League 2018-19: How have the foreign veterans fared so far?

The intense I-League season has already brought out some big performances by individuals. The foreigners, as usual, have been making headlines in every match with their performances.

Barring Indian Arrows and Shillong Lajong, almost every club has fulfilled their quota of six foreigners. While clubs like Chennai City signed mostly new foreigners, many clubs trusted the old guards who have been playing on the Indian soil for so many days.

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Let us look at the performances of some foreign veterans:

#11 Bazie Armand (Real Kashmir)

On the reference of his famous brother Kamo Stephen Bayi, Bazie Armand was brought to Kolkata by Rainbow Sporting Club, a premier division side of Kolkata last year. Bazie hadn’t scored a single goal for the club but his domination on the midfield caught the eye of several scouts and after much discussion, he was finally roped in by East Bengal.

However, Bazie couldn’t replicate the same form for the red and gold and was often criticised by the supporters. After a string of poor performances, Bazie was finally released by East Bengal and within a week he signed for Minerva Punjab, who were leading the table then.

Red and Gold supporters were shocked by the move but it was Minerva who had the last laugh as they became the first club from North India to win I-League. Bazie wasn’t retained by the league leaders and after a brief spell at Mohammedan Sporting club, he joined I-League debutants Real Kashmir and has been playing well since.

He is the mainstay of his new club and even scored two important goals, which earned his side vital wins. To be fair, he has been enjoying his life in Kashmir and showed no problem in adapting with the new club.

#10 Eze Kingsley Obumneme (Mohun Bagan)

Like Bazie, Kingsley too started his footballing career in Kolkata, with United Sports Club. After a brief spell with Peerless, Kingsley was signed by Aizawl FC. The Nigerian was performed brilliantly for his club and helped them to win I-League title. Watching his stupendous form, Mohun Bagan officials signed him last year.

He scored the only goal in Kolkata Derby last year to help Mohun Bagan win the match. But this season, he is not in his usual form. Mohun Bagan have conceded too many goals this season and Kingsley, being the captain, was irresponsible on many occasions.

He was given marching orders during the Kolkata Derby at a crucial moment, which changed the complexion of the match. Down to 10 men, Mohun Bagan could not make a comeback despite performing better than their rivals in the 2nd half.

#9 William Opoku (Minerva Punjab)

One of the high-profile players to play in the I-League, Opoku started his career with Ghanaian club Okeyman Planners before a sensational move to English Premier League side Middlesbrough. He was immediately loaned out to Estonian club Levadia Tallin where he spent two seasons before being signed by Minerva Punjab last year.

In his very first season, Opoku performed brilliantly and scored five crucial goals for his side, including the one against Churchill Brothers, which helped Minerva to win the I-League. He combined well with Bhutanese Striker Chencho Gyeltsen too.

He scored two goals out of five matches this season, but Minerva couldn’t get to the form they showed last season. Hopefully, Opoku could help them to turn their fortune around.

#8 Eduardo Soares Ferreira (Neroca FC)

Ferreira is a veteran in Indian football. Born in Brazil, Ferreira represented Equatorial Guinea for three matches. He was brought to Indian football by FC Pune City and scored his first goals for the club against Atletico de Kolkata (now ATK). He then signed for Mohun Bagan before switching his allegiance to arch-rivals East Bengal the following year.

Ferreira was released by the red and gold after the club failed to win the elusive I-League. Imphal-based side Neroca roped in Ferreira. But the former Mamelodi Sundowns player was injured after the first match against his former side East Bengal.

Upon returning from injury, Ferreira scored his first goals for Neroca against Gokulam Kerala, which earned his side a point. He is regaining his form slowly and maybe it will take some more matches for him to find his rhythm.

#7 Alfred Jaryan (Aizawl FC)

Alfred Jaryan is another player plying his trade in Indian football for a long time. He played for Mohammedan Sporting for four years before moving to now-defunct I-League side Mumbai FC. He returned to Mohammedan played there for one season.

He was signed by Aizawl FC upon instructions of Khalid Jamil, under whom Jaryan played in Mumbai. Being made the captain, Jaryan produced a stellar performance and helped the side win I-League. The following season, many title-winning players were poached by different clubs but Jaryan stayed back and still now plays for Aizawl.

Aizawl have been witnessing a bad patch this season and sitting at the bottom half of the table. But Jaryan has been trying to improve his performance in every match.

#6 Yuta Kinowaki (Mohun Bagan)

The Japanese midfielder came to India through Aizawl FC, who got promoted for the first time in I-League. Kinowaki shifted his allegiance to Shillong Lajong the following season and watching his brilliance in the midfield, he was signed by Mohun Bagan in 2017.

The player has been plagued by injuries for a couple of times. He made his debut against East Bengal year but was ruled in the next match. This season too, he missed the first game due to a shoulder injury.

However, the Japanese played an influential role since. He produced superb display against East Bengal and got his first goal for Mohun Bagan against his former club Shillong Lajong on Sunday.

#5 Ansumanah Kromah (Aizawl FC)

The Liberian footballer is another product of lower division football in Kolkata. He signed for Peerless in 2016, before being signed by Mohun Bagan. After a disastrous campaign with the green and maroon club, he was released and signed by East Bengal. There too, he failed to impress.

Kromah returned to Peerless and made his mark by scoring 11 goals in Calcutta Football League. He scored against both his former clubs East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.

Kromah signed for Aizawl for I-League. The club is currently languishing at 10th position and Kromah hasn’t impressed so far.

#5 Henry Kisekka (Mohun Bagan)

The Ugandan striker spent many years playing football in Vietnam, plying his trade for more than five clubs, before being signed by Gokulam Kerala FC last season. The Malabarians created uproar last season by defeating big clubs, including East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. Kisekka played an influential part by scoring in the big matches regularly.

Kisekka signed for Mohun Bagan this season but failed to impress so far. He scored in the first match against his former side but wasn’t impressive in his role thereafter. He registered his second goal this season against Shillong Lajong on Sunday.

#4 Dipanda Dicka (Mohun Bagan)

No matter what tournament he plays, Dipanda Dicka will always be the highest scorer. He caught the eye while playing for Shillong Lajong two years ago and was signed by Mohun Bagan following year. He played for Mohammedan in the CFL and Mohun Bagan in I-League last season. In both tournaments, he became the top scorer.

He was retained by the green and maroon this season and so far scored four goals, including one against East Bengal. But more than his goals, he was criticised for missing handful of chances. If Dicka keeps on scoring, he will have a chance to overtake other who are ahead of him.

#3 Katsumi Yusa (Neroca FC)

The Japanese made headlines before the start of the season by complaining against in former club East Bengal. The red and gold had not given ‘no objection certificate’ to Katsumi, telling the move to NEROCA was not permanent. The matter was sorted by both the clubs thereafter.

He had point to prove when he took the field against East Bengal in the first match of the campaign, but he got injured halfway through the match.

Katsumi made headlines again a few days ago when he became the fastest player to score in I-League, against Churchill Brothers. He scored another in the second half to help the club win the match.

#2 Sony Norde (Mohun Bagan)

Early in the year, Sony Norde left Mohun Bagan after a tearful press conference. It was a long knee injury which needed a long time to heal. As a recuperating in Argentina and the United States, rumours started brewing over his resigning with the club. Norde put the speculations on rife by tweeting best of luck to Mohun Bagan. Within a few days, the green and maroon made the announcement of his signing.

It was a move hailed by supporters but was questionable in nature. Norde carried an injury and has missed the first match of the tournament. After playing three matches, he was again sidelined, this time with a calf muscle injury. He missed the match against arch-rivals East Bengal.

But the Haitian showed his class with both the goals he scored so far. Playing his first match of the season, Norde made an instant impact by scoring a superb goal against Aizawl FC. On Chennai City match, he scored another screamer from well outside the box.

#1 Willis Plaza (Churchill Brothers)

The surprise pack this season is surely Willis Plaza. He was signed by East Bengal in January 2017 and scored some beautiful goals but the red and gold failed to win I-League. Plaza was initially released by the club but upon the insistence of the then coach Khalid Jamil, he made a return. Plaza’s poor form continued and he was released by the club in January 2018.

After spending one month for Mohammedan Sporting, he moved to Churchill Brothers and played brilliantly in Super Cup, where he scored all the three goals.

He is continuing his form in I-League too and already registered eight goals with his name. He has scored against his former club East Bengal too.

Edited by Aravind Suchindran