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I-League: Best Striker Of The Season - Indian & Foreign
The pin-up boys...
30-May-2010 6:00:00 PM
By Atishay Agarwal
The I-League season 2009-10 was one heavy on goals scored, with over 450 goals scored in 182 matches, an average of roughly 2.5 goals per game.
The top scorers in the league were, as you guessed it, champions Dempo, who hit the back of the net 54 times, with Churchill coming a close second with 51 goals, with 5th placed Mohun Bagan scoring 48 times. The fewest number of goals were scored by Shillong Lajong (23), who heartbreakingly got relegated on the final day of the season.
However, here we try and talk about the best strikers the league has seen during the campaign, under two categories - Indian & Foreign.
The first half of the league, especially, saw a number of Indians score freely, led by JCT's Baljit Sahni and Sunil Chhetri. However, the foreigners came to the fore in the second part of the campaign, some of them scoring goals for fun. Churchill skipper Odafa Okolie, despite looking nowhere near his best throughout the season, ended up with the Golden Boot yet again, scoring 22 goals.
The nominations for the category of I-League Striker of the Season - Foreign:
Josimar Martins (Chirag United) - The burly Brazilian is criticized often for not doing enough in open play, but you can't play down his importance to Chirag United. Scoring mostly with his head, Josimar is equally adept at finishing off moves with his feet, and inevitably gets into the right positions at the right time. He scored 16 in all, which helped Chirag race away in the first phase of the league, which at the end ensured that they didn't fall near the relegation zone.
Odafa Okolie (Churchill Brothers) - Nothin can keep the man down, it seems. It was next to impossible that he would reach the heights he scaled last season, and with every defence looking to take 'extra care' in dealing with him, most of the season he scored at a much lower rate than last term. However, without anyone really coming to know of it, he sneaked ahead of the rest at the tail end of the season and ended up as top scorer! That too by far, as he scored 22 goals.
Ekene Ikenwa (Salgaocar) - It was the Nigerian's first season in the league, and many questioned whether he was good enough to ensure Salgaocar stayed up. In the end, it were probably his goals that made the Goans survive. The Salgaocar scored 34 goals in all, and Ekene scored half of them, becoming the second-highest goal scorer in the league as a result, even though he started from the bench in many fixtures.
Edmar Figueira (Pune FC) - Pune were the I-League's new boys, and so was Edmar. We expect the world from Brazilians, and Edmar didn't quite provide that in the first phase of the league, where Pune failed to win even a single game. He raised his game significantly the second phase onwards, and so did Pune, which probably tells a story. He had a fine end to the season, ending up with 14 goals, while Pune turned on the style to finish third.
ND Opara (Air India) - The Mumbai side are never really in contention for the league, as they keep giving young players a chance to show their mettle at the top level, which puts a lot of pressure on their foreigners. Opara was crucial to their survival, scoring half of Air India's 28 goals.
Our Vote:
Ekene Ikenwa (Salgaocar) - The striker had little to no support up front for a chunk of the season, and yet was consistent with 17 goals in all, which helped Salgaocar finish an unprecedented 6th, especially after considering that once they were way down in 13th spot.
Nominations for the I-League Striker of the Season - Indian:
Baljit Sahni (JCT) - The 'Punjabi Munda' started the league season on fire, scoring a hattrick in JCT's first game against Lajong, and ended the first phase as top scorer in the league. However, an unfortunate bike accident in November cost him a place in the SAFF Cup, and a few matches in the league. He did well after recovering, but was deployed mainly in midfield after the arrival of Okoro and Ezeh at Phagwara. He ended the season with 8 goals.
Mohammed Rafi (Mahindra United) - The striker, who will play for Churchill Brothers next season, has had a superb season, ending the league as the highest-scoring Indian. He scored 14 in all, and alongside Muritala, formed a dangerous strike force that kept Mahindra in the hunt for the title till very late in the campaign.
Sunil Chhetri (Dempo) - Only India's third ever player to ply his trade abroad, Chhetri was having a fruitful season with Dempo till he left for the MLS and Kansas City Wizards. He was the prolific Indian striker Dempo were missing, and was especially influential in the win over Mohun Bagan at the Fatorda. Indian football will miss him.
Joaquim Abranches (Dempo) - Abranches is a typical example of an Indian forward perhaps not given enough playing time in a role that would unleash his potential. His work ethic on the pitch is second to none, and even though put out wide on the right at times, his tally of 8 goals in the season is decent. He would like to get near the 15-mark next season, and not stagnate.
Abhishek Yadav (Mumbai FC) - India's Peter Crouch, if you will. He doesn't do the robot dance though. Yadav has been very, very crucial for Mumbai FC this season. Throughout the season, he has chipped in with vital goals, none more so than on the final day, when his brace saw them beat Mohun Bagan and avoid the drop. He scored eight in all, but his contribution is much more than mere numbers.
Our Vote:
Mohammed Rafi (Mahindra United) - The young lad had a landmark season, chalking up his highest goal tally in a season (14), as well as getting a call up to the Indian senior squad. He was consistent, which is an area where our strikers lack a bit, and which makes him deserve our vote.
Disagree with our panel? Who do you think was the best foreign and Indian striker in the I-League this season? Let us know in the comments box below!
The top scorers in the league were, as you guessed it, champions Dempo, who hit the back of the net 54 times, with Churchill coming a close second with 51 goals, with 5th placed Mohun Bagan scoring 48 times. The fewest number of goals were scored by Shillong Lajong (23), who heartbreakingly got relegated on the final day of the season.
However, here we try and talk about the best strikers the league has seen during the campaign, under two categories - Indian & Foreign.
The first half of the league, especially, saw a number of Indians score freely, led by JCT's Baljit Sahni and Sunil Chhetri. However, the foreigners came to the fore in the second part of the campaign, some of them scoring goals for fun. Churchill skipper Odafa Okolie, despite looking nowhere near his best throughout the season, ended up with the Golden Boot yet again, scoring 22 goals.
The nominations for the category of I-League Striker of the Season - Foreign:
Josimar Martins (Chirag United) - The burly Brazilian is criticized often for not doing enough in open play, but you can't play down his importance to Chirag United. Scoring mostly with his head, Josimar is equally adept at finishing off moves with his feet, and inevitably gets into the right positions at the right time. He scored 16 in all, which helped Chirag race away in the first phase of the league, which at the end ensured that they didn't fall near the relegation zone.
Odafa Okolie (Churchill Brothers) - Nothin can keep the man down, it seems. It was next to impossible that he would reach the heights he scaled last season, and with every defence looking to take 'extra care' in dealing with him, most of the season he scored at a much lower rate than last term. However, without anyone really coming to know of it, he sneaked ahead of the rest at the tail end of the season and ended up as top scorer! That too by far, as he scored 22 goals.
Ekene Ikenwa (Salgaocar) - It was the Nigerian's first season in the league, and many questioned whether he was good enough to ensure Salgaocar stayed up. In the end, it were probably his goals that made the Goans survive. The Salgaocar scored 34 goals in all, and Ekene scored half of them, becoming the second-highest goal scorer in the league as a result, even though he started from the bench in many fixtures.
Edmar Figueira (Pune FC) - Pune were the I-League's new boys, and so was Edmar. We expect the world from Brazilians, and Edmar didn't quite provide that in the first phase of the league, where Pune failed to win even a single game. He raised his game significantly the second phase onwards, and so did Pune, which probably tells a story. He had a fine end to the season, ending up with 14 goals, while Pune turned on the style to finish third.
ND Opara (Air India) - The Mumbai side are never really in contention for the league, as they keep giving young players a chance to show their mettle at the top level, which puts a lot of pressure on their foreigners. Opara was crucial to their survival, scoring half of Air India's 28 goals.
Our Vote:
Ekene Ikenwa (Salgaocar) - The striker had little to no support up front for a chunk of the season, and yet was consistent with 17 goals in all, which helped Salgaocar finish an unprecedented 6th, especially after considering that once they were way down in 13th spot.
Nominations for the I-League Striker of the Season - Indian:
Baljit Sahni (JCT) - The 'Punjabi Munda' started the league season on fire, scoring a hattrick in JCT's first game against Lajong, and ended the first phase as top scorer in the league. However, an unfortunate bike accident in November cost him a place in the SAFF Cup, and a few matches in the league. He did well after recovering, but was deployed mainly in midfield after the arrival of Okoro and Ezeh at Phagwara. He ended the season with 8 goals.
Mohammed Rafi (Mahindra United) - The striker, who will play for Churchill Brothers next season, has had a superb season, ending the league as the highest-scoring Indian. He scored 14 in all, and alongside Muritala, formed a dangerous strike force that kept Mahindra in the hunt for the title till very late in the campaign.
Sunil Chhetri (Dempo) - Only India's third ever player to ply his trade abroad, Chhetri was having a fruitful season with Dempo till he left for the MLS and Kansas City Wizards. He was the prolific Indian striker Dempo were missing, and was especially influential in the win over Mohun Bagan at the Fatorda. Indian football will miss him.
Joaquim Abranches (Dempo) - Abranches is a typical example of an Indian forward perhaps not given enough playing time in a role that would unleash his potential. His work ethic on the pitch is second to none, and even though put out wide on the right at times, his tally of 8 goals in the season is decent. He would like to get near the 15-mark next season, and not stagnate.
Abhishek Yadav (Mumbai FC) - India's Peter Crouch, if you will. He doesn't do the robot dance though. Yadav has been very, very crucial for Mumbai FC this season. Throughout the season, he has chipped in with vital goals, none more so than on the final day, when his brace saw them beat Mohun Bagan and avoid the drop. He scored eight in all, but his contribution is much more than mere numbers.
Our Vote:
Mohammed Rafi (Mahindra United) - The young lad had a landmark season, chalking up his highest goal tally in a season (14), as well as getting a call up to the Indian senior squad. He was consistent, which is an area where our strikers lack a bit, and which makes him deserve our vote.
Disagree with our panel? Who do you think was the best foreign and Indian striker in the I-League this season? Let us know in the comments box below!
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