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Foreigners have always been a decisive factor in Indian club football and their importance has been enhanced further following the rule of allowing four in the first eleven from the upcoming 2013-14 I-League. Some clubs like East Bengal, Mohammedan Sporting and Shillong Lajong have already completed their full quota of four foreigners while many teams are yet to finish their transfer activity for the new season.
There is still plenty of time to see a few more foreign signings but already there have been some quality recruitments. Sportskeeda lists the top five foreign signings of the I-League summer transfer window so far.
List in chronological order (in terms of the date on which each signing was confirmed)
Penn Orji (Mohammedan Sporting)
The Nigerian midfield playmaker joined Mohammedan Sporting after failing to agree on a new deal with East Bengal as it required a pay cut due to the financial problems at the red-and-gold brigade. Penn spent three seasons at East Bengal and was one of their most consistent players in the first two campaigns. The former JCT man’s form dipped in his final season at East Bengal but there is no doubt about his quality and he can be expected to be at his best again for newly-promoted Mohammedan Sporting. Despite signing Tolgay Ozbey, Luciano Sobrosa and Josimar, senior Mohammedan Sporting officials have publicly stated that Penn will be their talisman and is a strong contender to be the captain. Penn will be reunited with Tolgay also and it could turn out to be one of the best combinations of the 2013-14 I-League.
James Moga (East Bengal)
The day Mohammedan Sporting announced the signing of Penn, East Bengal confirmed South Sudan international striker James Moga as the Nigerian’s replacement. In terms of goals, Moga is a big improvement on Penn and the reputation of the 30-year-old in Indian football has grown since joining Sporting Clube de Goa two years ago. Moga has scored 32 goals over the last two seasons with half of them for Pune FC in the 2012-13 campaign.
One of the main reasons for East Bengal’s failure to win the I-League last term was their over-reliance on top scorer Edeh Chidi. Moga’s arrival will certainly take away a lot of weight off Chidi’s shoulders and the South Sudan man will also benefit from the service of a quality midfield. Moga’s physical power and quality finishing makes him a top draw signing for an already strong East Bengal squad.
Simon Colosimo (Dempo)
Last season, former EPL player Rohan Ricketts and World Cupper Carlos Hernandez were the two major marquee foreign signings of the I-League. This time around, former Manchester City defender Simon Colosimo was the first big high profile foreign recruitment as he joined five-time record Indian champions Dempo. The Australian played for City in the second tier of English football and has represented his country at the youth World Cup, Olympics and Confederations Cup.
The center back last played for Melbourne Heart in Australia’s A-League and was recommended by Dempo’s new Australian coach Arthur Papas. The 34-year-old will add plenty of quality and experience both to Dempo and the I-League overall and looks well placed to have a better stint in India than previous A-League players like Hernandez, Simon Storey and Andrew Barisic. Dempo will be starting a new era under Papas and Colosimo is expected to be one of the key figures.
Cornell Glen (Shillong Lajong)
Cornell Glen (No. 13, right)
Glen becomes the sixth World Cupper and second Trinidad and Tobago international to join an Indian club following Densil Theobald’s short spell at Dempo in 2012. Shillong Lajong had made headlines in the last winter transfer window by signing Portuguese teenager Edinho Junior on loan from Blackburn Rovers but Glen is undoubtedly going to be the most high-profile player in the club’s history.
The 31-year-old striker played at the 2006 World Cup, featuring in all three of Trinidad & Tobago’s group matches and is his country’s fifth highest scorer in international football with 23 goals, a tally better than that of former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke. Glen has had spells at several MLS clubs including LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes and last played for Trinidad and Tobago outfit North East Stars. Glen will have a major influence on the young Shillong Lajong squad both on and off the field.
Euripedes Amoreirinha (Churchill Brothers)
Churchill Brothers had quality foreigners throughout the 2012-13 campaign and it was the main reason behind their second title triumph. The I-League holders started the summer transfer window slowly and then signed two Portuguese players. Former Sporting Lisbon youth product Hugo Machado was one of them but ex Benfica central defender Euripedes Amoreirinha is likely to have the bigger impact.
The 28-year-old has represented Portugal at youth level and was last playing for Portuguese top tier outfit Vitoria Setubal. So the I-League will be a massive stepdown for him but on the other hand Amoreirinha will be a fantastic addition for Churchill Brothers. Amoreirinha, who has also played for Portugal’s Academica and Romanian powerhouse CFR Cluj, should be able to settle in India easily due to the similarities in the cultures of Portugal and Goa and thus will be an important player in Churchill Brothers’ title defence.
