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The I-League summer transfer window hasn’t really come alive in terms of Indian signings as several players still haven’t made their mind up on whether to sign for an I-League club or join IMG Reliance’s IPL-style football project. Unless the clubs and IMG-R come to an agreement of allowing players to feature in both tournaments, this uncertainty will remain.
Some clubs like newly-promoted Rangdajied United and newly-entered JSW and Mumbai Tigers are yet to complete their squad so until the start of the 2013-14 I-League in September, we are sure to see a few more quality Indian recruitments with even the future of national team skipper Sunil Chhetri being undecided.
But many I-League teams have already made some notable Indian additions to their squad. Sportskeeda lists the top five Indian signings so far.
The list is not in any particular order
Wahid Sali (Mohun Bagan)
The Kerala-born defender’s rise in Indian football has been remarkable as until December 2012, he didn’t have any I-League experience. But after having a consistent spell with ONGC, Sali has been roped in by Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan. The 27-year-old had a short spell at Mumbai FC but spent most of his career playing for Kerala-based clubs like Josco, SBT and Universal Soccer School. He joined ONGC towards the end of 2012 and was instrumental in the club’s improvement in the second half of the season.
Sali is naturally a central defender but he can also operate as a right back and was among the best Indian defenders last season despite not playing the first two months of the campaign. Mohun Bagan have struggled defensively in recent seasons so the addition of the versatile Sali will be valuable and the defender will be eager to impress at his first big club.
Jeje Lalpekhlua (Dempo)
Not many Indian strikers in the recent past have looked like matching the standards of Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri but Jeje has been a notable exception. The 22-year-old from Mizoram made a superb start to his international career with four goals in his first three games and is the last Indian to reach double figures in the I-League. But following a knee injury in the 2011-12 campaign, Jeje’s form dipped and he played without confidence in his final campaign for Pune FC.
He needed a fresh start and that was granted by Dempo, where he will be reunited with Australian coach Arthur Papas, who made Jeje the captain of the India U-22 team last year. Dempo intend to have only three foreigners for now and that shows they have plenty of faith in Jeje’s qualities. The former Arrows player will be determined to have a strong and prolific first season for Dempo.
Milan Singh (Shillong Lajong)
Milan Singh (wearing No.7)Photo Credit: AIFF Media
This 21-year-old central midfielder is one of many youngsters who have benefitted from the Arrows project. Milan spent three years with AIFF’s developmetal side, developing into one of the best young players of the country. The Manipuri is an excellent passer and his workrate is up there with the very best of the I-League. In 2012-13, he was one of the senior players of the young Arrows squad and thus played in each of their 26 matches, scoring five.
His contract with Arrows expired at the end of the season and thus he had plenty of offers from the big clubs but Milan smartly decided to join Shillong Lajong in order to get regular first-team action. A return to the North-East would also help him settle off the field and the midfielder is expected to play an important role in Lajong’s fourth season in the Indian top flight.
Joaquim Abranches (East Bengal)
Joaquim Abranches (left)
This summer transfer window has seen a new trend of Goan footballers moving to Kolkata and 27-year-old Joaquim Abranches is possibly the best of the lot. Joaquim, who can function as a striker and wide attacking midfielder on both flanks, joined East Bengal after a nine-year spell with Dempo. The India international had been a target of the red-and-gold brigade in the previous two campaigns and even agreed personal terms with them last year but remained with Dempo on the advice of the legendary Armand Colaco.
But with Armando leaving Dempo this summer, the Margao-born player finally decided to move out of Goa. Joaquim has been among the top Indian scorers in recent seasons and thus has been a regular part of the national team setup. His versatility in the final third and experience of winning the I-League will make him a very important member of the East Bengal squad.
Karma Tsewang (Salgaocar)
Karma Tsewang (left, wearing no.14)
The 24-year-old wide midfielder’s first top flight club was United Kerala and an impressive spell there earned him a move to Pune FC in 2011. Karma, who hails from Mysore but has Tibetan roots, immediately became an integral part of the Pune FC team but it was last season that he really took his game to another level and became one of the best creative medios of the I-League. Karma appeared in 24 of Pune’s 26 I-League matches, creating plenty of goals and also catching the attention of Wim Koevermans.
A summer move to a bigger club was imminent and Karma followed former Pune FC coach Derrick Pereira to Salgaocar. Derrick got the best out of Karma, who can operate on both flanks, and the duo will be looking to recreate their Pune FC consistency at Salgaocar also. Another fine domestic season will surely earn Karma a call-up to the national team also.
