ISL 2015: Top 5 NorthEast United FC players to watch out for

Ahead of the second season of the Indian Super League, NorthEast United launched their jersey on 23rd September in Guwahati. A host of players, including Simao Sabrosa, Nicolaz Velez, Alan Deory and Aiborlang Khongjee were present during the kit launch, along with manager Cesar Farias and John Abraham, co-owner of the Highlanders.The team did not really have a fruitful season last year, with them finishing at the bottom of the table. This year however, with a re-furnished team and reloaded attacking line up, the Highlanders prepare to conquer the league amidst the hopes of 8 states it is representing.We here look at five players who you should look out for in the NEUFC Squad in the Second Season of ISL.

#5 Boubacar Sanogo

Boubacar Sanogo was the top scorer of the UAE League

Ivory Coast international Boubacar Sanogo is another name to look up for in the NorthEast United FC attacking line up. The 6ft 2in striker has 21 international caps in which he scored 8 times.

Sanogo started his career in Tunisia and later on moved on to Al-Ain FC in the UAE League. It was in UAE where he attained fame, for winning the AFC Cup with the team also being the top scorer of the UAE League.

In 2005 he started playing for German Club 1. FC Kaiserslautern where he scored 10 goals in 24 matches; a performance that caught the attention of top German clubs. Subsequently he joined Hamburger SV in the summer of 2006, but did not really click well with the team.

In NorthEast United he joins Diomansy Kamara, Holicharan Narzary, Nicolas Velez,Francis Dadzie and Simao Sabora in the attack force and fans would truly hope he can repeat what he did in the UAE League.

#4 Miguel Garcia

Garcia made 13 appearences for NEUFC in their 14 matches

Defender Miguel Garcia is another name retained by NEUFC. He is the third Portuguese in the team after marquee Player Simao Sabora and Mid-fielder Silas, and is also the second player in the team to have played for Sporting Portugal.

Garcia has a decent season last year with him making 13 of 14 appearances in the league stages. After the ISL he joined Sporting Clube de Goa who were struggling at the bottom of the I League table and helped them stay in the I-League.

He will be one man to look out for in the defence line of the NorthEast United.

#3 Kondwani Mtonga

The Zambian international was a part of the team that won 2012 African Cup of Nations

Kondwani Mtonga is one of the few players retained by NorthEast United this season. The Zambian international, who has a part of the team that won the 2012 African Cup of Nations, had an impressive first season of ISL with 13 appearances and 2 goals. He caught everyone’s eyes with his superb aerial abilities and his presence in the midfield last season held the team together.

"I am glad to stay with North East United FC for another season. I definitely have improved as a player over the past five months. I hope to build on from last season, and contribute towards the club picking up some silverware in the coming season," said Mtonga in a statement.

"I will do my best to contribute in the team's success in any way I can and repay the faith shown in me by the team management." He continued.

#2 Nicolas Velez

Arsene Wenger termed Velez’s performance ‘electric’

Argentine Nicolas Velez is another key signing for NorthEast United. A product of River Plate youth academy, Velez was in phenomenal form for his last club, Warriors FC of the Singapore League, for whom he scored 29 times in 38 appearances and helping them win the title in 2014.

His statistics in the S-League talks a lot about his attacking intent, which is much required for NorthEast United. His performance for Warriors FC earned him a slot in the Singapore Select XI for the Barclays Asia Trophy.

Playing against teams like Arsenal, Stoke and Juventus in the Barclays Asia Trophy, the forward of Singapore Select XI earned praise from Arsene Wenger who termed his performance 'electric'. He is very much in form as he joins NorthEast United FC as he kicked off the 2015 season of the S-League by scoring the winner in the Singapore Community Shield, and by April this year scored six more.

Happy with his signing for NEUFC, the official website of the team quotes his: "It is a challenge and a great opportunity for me to play in a League with a lot of great players and legends of the game"

Let’s hope he becomes the finisher which NEUFC lacked last season.

#1 Simao Sabrosa

Sabrosa along with coach Cesar Farias and Sanju Pradhan at ISL Media Day in Mumbai

Fans from not just North East, but across India would be waiting to witness the magic of Benfica legend and Portuguese International Simao Sabrosa. The 2004 Euro finalist was signed by NorthEast United as their marquee player for this year’s Indian Super League.

Simao started his career with Sporting Club de Portugal and made his debut for Sporting at the age of 17, scoring in his very first match. Even in his International debut, as a 19 year old, he scored against Israel.

He was labelled as the new Luis Figo. And following Figo’s footsteps Simao joined Barcelona in the year 1999 for €15m. He however did not really live up to his expectations with Barca, having scored just 3 goals in 46 matches. It was at Benfica that the winger finally shook the expectations and became a great Portuguese player in his own right, earning him a €20m transfer to Atletico. He played 172 games and scored 76 goals for Benfica, before he eventually moved to Madrid in the summer of 2007.

He missed the 2002 World Cup due to injury, but did play the World Cups in 2006 and 2010, and the European Tournaments in 2004 and 2008. Simao has played 85 caps, in which he scored 22 goals.

"I am looking forward to this new challenge. India is a wonderful country full of rich culture and heritage. The Inian Super League has brought football in India to everybody’s attention and I cannot wait to participate in it." Simao said in his contract signing.

We surely can’t wait to watch his play.