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This I-League season will be remembered for a number of reasons. Mostly for the nail-biting finishes it had in store on the last day of the season with 4 teams fighting for the title, while another battled relegation.
The other thing that will be memorable for fans will be that it is the first time a team from Punjab and North India has won the I league and it is only the second time in the history of the I-League/NFL that a team from Punjab or North India has won the Premier National level league after JCT won the title in the inaugural edition of the NFL.
This I-League season also saw a lot of unknown or rather infamous players take centre stage as the creme of Indian players opted to play for the cash-rich glamorous ISL, a tournament which was running parallel with I League for the first time.
In this article, we take a look at 5 less popular players who outshone seasoned pro’s to come into the spotlight this season.
#5 Kivi Zhimomi (Gokulam Kerala)
The 22- year old Dimapur born forward is one of the two players from Nagaland to feature in the top level leagues of India at present. Kivi is a known figure for those who have been following the game at the domestic level closely. He has played for clubs like Mohammedan Sporting Club, Rangdajied FC and now is playing for Gokulam Kerala.
The Naga lad started his footballing career in the Nagaland Premier League from where he went on to play the Assam Premier League and CFL. A forward by choice, the tall lanky striker can play in the wings and also as a central midfielder. Gokulam basically used him as a second striker or a central midfielder.
He made 11 apps for Gokulam this season and scored 2 goals, the aspect that caught everyone's eyes was his work rate. He ran the length and breadth of the pitch and was seen closing down opponents at lighting speed which helped his side win a lot of balls in the attacking third.
The two goals that he scored were very crucial for Gokulam as both of them were winning goals against East Bengal and Lajong. Kivi also had a big role to play in Gokulam’s late surge in form which helped them to get the name tag of ‘Giant Killers’.
#4 Nikhil Kadam (Mohun Bagan)
The Mo Salah look-alike was a fan favourite for the green and maroon and also for football fans. It was his football which did the talking, rather than his doppelgänger effect. Denied regular starts under the Sanjoy Sen's regime, Nikhil found his best form under Shankar Lal and had a big role to play in Mohun Bagan’s late surge to still be in the hunt for becoming champions.
Predominantly a right winger Nikhil can play on both the flanks with ease. His clever runs and laser-guided crosses are gifts any team would love to have.
Nikhil played 12 games for the Mariners this season and scored one goal, but it was his overall play and runs down the flanks that wooed the spectators. His link-up play with Dicka and Akram was a thing to watch out for in the later part of the league.
#3 Gagandeep Bali (Minerva Punjab)
Mr Versatile for Minerva this season was Gagandeep Bali. He played in attack, midfield and defence. His preferred position is the right wing but he has been used as a number nine, central midfielder and even in a game as a defender.
Gagandeep has 12 appearances to his name and has scored 3 goals, goals which were vital in ensuring that Minerva become champions.
The former Salgaocar FC player also showed this season that physically strong strikers in India isn’t limited to the likes of Robin and Balwant and that there are others in Punjab who can do what they have been doing and at times do it better than them. His aerial presence was also a thing the likes of Khogen Singh and Ranjit Bajaj looked to use whenever he was on the pitch.
#2 Samuel Lalmuanpuia (Shillong Lajong)
The youngest team captain in the I-League this season Samuel lived up to his club’s expectation this season, the club had high hopes when they handed out the 19-year-old Lajong academy graduate the captain's armband for the season.
Lajong saw a host of their players and even their ex-coach join the ISL bandwagon but that didn’t have any adverse effect on the club as they again showed that a club which has an effective youth system in place will never suffer from a player crisis. Lajong in all their games fielded nearly 6-7 U-23 players something which no other Indian team can dream of.
Samuel played 17 games this season and scored 3 goals and bagged 5 assists. He is a master of set pieces and most of his goals has come from free kicks. Impeccable technique, calm and composed on the ball Samuel is one of the biggest prospects in Indian football at the moment.
A lot of ISL clubs have reportedly tried to sign the player, but it looks like the Mizo captain of the Reds from Shillong is going nowhere as he has a long-term contract with them.
Samuel had a big role in ensuring that Lajong qualified for the Super Cup directly by finishing 6th in the league table.
He was also awarded the best young player of the I-League this season.
#1 Michael Soosairaj (Chennai City FC)
The best Indian player of the I-League by a margin Michael Soosairaj outshone a lot of foreigners playing in the I-League. He was the sole torchbearer for Chennai City FC and pulled them out of difficult situations a lot of times this season.
A pure creative midfielder by trade Soosairaj does his job with an amount of aura and flair in him. His passing and vision have been applauded by the highest echelons of Indian football, and the tricks that he pulls off with the ball at his feet has wooed the Coimbatore crowd and the nation.
Soosairaj can also play as the second striker or as a defensive midfielder if required but his best is seen when he plays as a CAM.
He had 17 apps for Chennai City FC this season and scored 2 goals, he also has 3 assists to his name, but it wasn’t his stats that impressed all, it was his never say die attitude and some moments of magic in the field that made everyone notice this Tamil Nadu born player. His contributions also ensured that Chennai survived relegation this season. He was awarded as the best midfielder in the I League this season.
He recently joined ISL side Jamshedpur FC for a record transfer fee of INR 30 lakhs and has a buyout clause of INR 95 lakhs in his contract.
