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Goal.com Special: Who Is Pune FC's Player Of The Season?
Who is your pick?
21-May-2010 11:56:00 PM
By Amoy Ghoshal
For any club that makes its debut in a league, the target is to achieve survival but Pune FC never kept such small goals for themselves as they strived to be successful at both on and off the field even in their first season.
Still very few people expected them to be second in the table with only one round remaining so this has truly been a dream start in the top flight for Pune.
They did not build a squad full of superstars but formed a team that comprises a good blend of youth and experience. And in Derrick Pereira, they hired one of the most talented coaches in the country. It took them time to get results as they struggled to turn draws into wins in the first phase.
But a good showing in the Federation Cup, where they missed out on a semi-final spot on goals scored, proved to be the catalyst of a good run in the I-League as they managed six consecutive wins. They had a few hiccups after that but are finishing the season strongly and could eventually claim the runners-up spot.
For Pune, it certainly hasn’t been about individuals as they have played as a team throughout the season. But there were a few exceptional performers, who are largely responsible for their impressive showing. On the eve of their awards night, Goal.com picks five of their best players and also picks the one player who deserves to be their player of the season.
Subrata Paul: India’s number one is the main reason behind Pune’s impressive defensive record. Paul struggled at club level while playing for East Bengal last season but this term for Pune he was nearly as good as he has been during national duty. In many games this campaign Paul made some remarkable saves to earn his side some valuable points and at the same time he hardly committed any mistake.
Shanmugham Venkatesh: The former Indian captain wasn’t always a regular but still played a key role in Pune’s impressive debut I-League campaign. Venkatesh scored four very important goals for Derrick Pereira’s side and also assisted in quite a few. His experience from the middle of the park had a huge influence on a relatively young Pune squad and his versatility allowed coach Pereira to use him in different positions in midfield which gave Pune an extra dimension going forward.
Douhou Pierre: The Ivorian showed glimpses of his talent while playing for Mahindra for two seasons but it is at Pune where he has well and truly announced his arrival in Indian football. Douhou provided numerous assists and scored vital goals for his side. He was not only consistent in the I-League but was also one of the best players of the tournament in the Federation Cup. Pune relied heavily on him and he was thus indispensable to Derrick Pereira's plans.
Izumi Arata: Arata has been playing in India since 2007 but this was by far his best season. Playing on the left wing, the Japanse born PIO tormented opposition defences with his pace and trickery. But more importantly he regularly got on the scoresheet from midfield, scoring as many as nine league goals. He was an important match winner for Pune and also a fan favourite.
Edmar Figueira: It is never easy for a foreigner to be successful in the first season but Edmar has done just that. He did start slowly and scored very few goals in the first half of the I-League campaign. But the Brazilain forward scored for fun in the second half and with just one round remaining, he has 14 goals in his kitty. That tally is truly a great return for the Brazilian in his debut season.
Our Vote: Subrata Paul The likes of Edmar, Douhou and Arata grabbed all the headlines for their good work in the outfield, but in truth it was the performances of Paul under the bar that was pivotal in Pune’s dream debut season. His goal from the penalty spot against Churchill was the icing on the cake.
So do you agree with our choice? Or do you think someone else should be Pune's player of the season? Is it someone other than these five? Share your thoughts in the comments box.
Still very few people expected them to be second in the table with only one round remaining so this has truly been a dream start in the top flight for Pune.
They did not build a squad full of superstars but formed a team that comprises a good blend of youth and experience. And in Derrick Pereira, they hired one of the most talented coaches in the country. It took them time to get results as they struggled to turn draws into wins in the first phase.
But a good showing in the Federation Cup, where they missed out on a semi-final spot on goals scored, proved to be the catalyst of a good run in the I-League as they managed six consecutive wins. They had a few hiccups after that but are finishing the season strongly and could eventually claim the runners-up spot.
For Pune, it certainly hasn’t been about individuals as they have played as a team throughout the season. But there were a few exceptional performers, who are largely responsible for their impressive showing. On the eve of their awards night, Goal.com picks five of their best players and also picks the one player who deserves to be their player of the season.
Subrata Paul: India’s number one is the main reason behind Pune’s impressive defensive record. Paul struggled at club level while playing for East Bengal last season but this term for Pune he was nearly as good as he has been during national duty. In many games this campaign Paul made some remarkable saves to earn his side some valuable points and at the same time he hardly committed any mistake.
Shanmugham Venkatesh: The former Indian captain wasn’t always a regular but still played a key role in Pune’s impressive debut I-League campaign. Venkatesh scored four very important goals for Derrick Pereira’s side and also assisted in quite a few. His experience from the middle of the park had a huge influence on a relatively young Pune squad and his versatility allowed coach Pereira to use him in different positions in midfield which gave Pune an extra dimension going forward.
Douhou Pierre: The Ivorian showed glimpses of his talent while playing for Mahindra for two seasons but it is at Pune where he has well and truly announced his arrival in Indian football. Douhou provided numerous assists and scored vital goals for his side. He was not only consistent in the I-League but was also one of the best players of the tournament in the Federation Cup. Pune relied heavily on him and he was thus indispensable to Derrick Pereira's plans.
Izumi Arata: Arata has been playing in India since 2007 but this was by far his best season. Playing on the left wing, the Japanse born PIO tormented opposition defences with his pace and trickery. But more importantly he regularly got on the scoresheet from midfield, scoring as many as nine league goals. He was an important match winner for Pune and also a fan favourite.
Our Vote: Subrata Paul The likes of Edmar, Douhou and Arata grabbed all the headlines for their good work in the outfield, but in truth it was the performances of Paul under the bar that was pivotal in Pune’s dream debut season. His goal from the penalty spot against Churchill was the icing on the cake.
So do you agree with our choice? Or do you think someone else should be Pune's player of the season? Is it someone other than these five? Share your thoughts in the comments box.
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