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Food For Thought: The I-League Newbies - Report Card
Goal.com's Atishay Agarwal grades the four new I-League teams this season...
04-Nov-2009 3:04:28 AM
The buzz around the I-League before the season kicked off was how the teams this year represented much more of India than the league previously did. Not only are there teams from Goa, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Punjab now, but we have a Northeastern club, one from Kerala, and another from the city of Pune.
As a result, the overall marketability of the I-League has increased tremendously, and the league as a product is much more attractive now to the viewer, as well as potential sponsors. Which is why we've seen teams like Lajong and Pune attract top companies as their sponsors and partners, helping them to compete with the biggies of Indian football.
But the best part about all four teams, namely Salgaocar, Viva Kerala, Pune FC, and Shillong Lajong, is that they aren't in the top flight to just make up the numbers. No way. They're giving all teams in contention a fight, with some of them already having caused big upsets. People are flocking to their home grounds, and we suddenly have a national league worth following with all our heart.
Getting into their stride...
Salgaocar are a big club. They were up there fighting for the league in the late 90's, and have even won the NFL on one occasion, so expectations were never too low when they won promotion from the second division earlier this year, and Tim Hankinson's side, despite starting slowly, have done quite well. Playing Dempo is never easy, but they managed to draw that one, before going down tamely to Mahindra United.
However, since then, Hankinson's men have turned it around slightly, with a victory in an entertaining Goa derby against Sporting, followed by two draws away to East Bengal in Kolkata, and Lajong, both difficult places to travel to. Luciano has been superb in defence, helping the team to build from the back, while Anthony Barbosa and Eneke Ikenwa have given them the cutting edge in midfield and attack.
The side were unlucky to pick up only a point against Lajong in Shillong, as they dominated the entire game, showing signs of things to come. With the early teething problems sorted out, the Goans are a side to be taken very seriously, and with an intelligent tactician at the helm in Hankinson,
expect more solid displays from Salgaocar in the rounds to come.
League Position: 10th
Grade: B-
A lot of work needed...
If there was one team everyone tipped to be relegated this season, it was Viva Kerala, and frankly, it still is. Viva have played five games and lost four, with their solitary victory coming against a hapless Sporting Clube de Goa side. However, it's not lost on observers that the team hasn't been as bad as results would suggest.
Their problem lies mainly in the attacking third, where they haven't created enough chances, and when they have, they go begging. It is this lack of spunk in attack that has prompted them to acquire the services of Thai midfielder Wisut Bunpeng, who looked lively in his first outing against East Bengal. Otherwise, PIO Patrick Sisupalan has looked impressive, with others like Sakeer, Sirajudeen, Sakeer and Sabeeth all being good players.
Their lone victory came against Sporting, where they also scored their first goals in the league, in their fourth game. It was deemed to be a turning point for the side, but they failed to score in their very next game, against East Bengal, a problem Sreedharan will have to address immediately. If Bunpeng gets into his stride and his teammates adapt well to him, Viva can turn it around a bit, but as of now, they still look out of place in the top flight.
League Position: 13th
Grade: D
Solid, but baffling...
Pune FC's sojourn in the I-League has been rather strange. Actually, it's been very strange. They've got a good coach in Derrick Pereira, a professional set up at the club in terms of infrastructure and administration, and some very good players, but something does seem to be missing for Pune FC. How else would one explain five draws in six games, that too when they've dominated most of those matches?
Like Kerala, Pune too have done very well in defence, and midfield, where Venkatesh runs the show, but finishing is an issue with the team at the moment. With Jeje away with the U-19's, and Edmar not looking like the 20 goals per season man,
Pereira might just have to jump into the transfer market again.
The players as well as the coach insist that there's no anxiety creeping into the club, but one can't help but get the feeling that it's a case of them being economical with the truth. While stalwarts like Venkatesh, Douhou, and Subrata Paul have been going about their job as well as expected, players like Arata, Aseem, Selwyn and Jeje have caught the eye too, which implies that Pereira does have a good squad at his disposal.
At least good enough to win a game of football, which they still haven't done. They're only one of two teams with that dubious record at the moment, and will be desperate to change that at the earliest. And they should, with the solid base that they have now, of being unbeaten in their last four games. The Pune faithful have made the Balewadi Sports Complex the place to be on matchdays, and their support will definitely be needed, as they look to turn their luck around, and convert the draws to wins.
League Position: 11th
Grade: B-
As unpredictable as the hilly weather...
Dark horses, unknown quantities, surprise package, the team from Shillong had been labeled with several different names, and one can safely say that they've lived up to most of them. They've been superb at times, woeful at others, but they have brought with them a new energy into the league.
However, they've been too inconsistent for their own liking. They responded superbly in Goa with a victory at Sporting, after being embarrassed by JCT in the opening round, but then were thumped again, this time by Dempo. They turned it around again, winning their first home game by skinning Air India 3-0, but lost once more to Mohun Bagan, despite dominating for the first hour of the game. Unlike the others, they've looked very impressive going forward, but they still lack discipline defensively, which will take some time to inculcate.
With two wins, one draw, and three defeats from their six games so far, you don't know what you're going to get from Lajong, but you know it's going to be exciting, especially when you see them pack their stadium game after game. Thirty thousand people have turned up for every home match of theirs till now, drumming, chanting, and singing their way through the 90 minutes, no matter what the scoreline.
It is this very support that will help them win many a home game this season, and the recent signing of Nepal striker Anil Gurung suggests that they're constantly looking to improve, so the future promises much for Lajong. If only they become slightly consistent, they'll be up there with the best in the country.
League Position: 7th
Grade: B+
Atishay Agarwal
As a result, the overall marketability of the I-League has increased tremendously, and the league as a product is much more attractive now to the viewer, as well as potential sponsors. Which is why we've seen teams like Lajong and Pune attract top companies as their sponsors and partners, helping them to compete with the biggies of Indian football.
But the best part about all four teams, namely Salgaocar, Viva Kerala, Pune FC, and Shillong Lajong, is that they aren't in the top flight to just make up the numbers. No way. They're giving all teams in contention a fight, with some of them already having caused big upsets. People are flocking to their home grounds, and we suddenly have a national league worth following with all our heart.
Getting into their stride...
Salgaocar are a big club. They were up there fighting for the league in the late 90's, and have even won the NFL on one occasion, so expectations were never too low when they won promotion from the second division earlier this year, and Tim Hankinson's side, despite starting slowly, have done quite well. Playing Dempo is never easy, but they managed to draw that one, before going down tamely to Mahindra United.
However, since then, Hankinson's men have turned it around slightly, with a victory in an entertaining Goa derby against Sporting, followed by two draws away to East Bengal in Kolkata, and Lajong, both difficult places to travel to. Luciano has been superb in defence, helping the team to build from the back, while Anthony Barbosa and Eneke Ikenwa have given them the cutting edge in midfield and attack.
The side were unlucky to pick up only a point against Lajong in Shillong, as they dominated the entire game, showing signs of things to come. With the early teething problems sorted out, the Goans are a side to be taken very seriously, and with an intelligent tactician at the helm in Hankinson,
expect more solid displays from Salgaocar in the rounds to come.
League Position: 10th
Grade: B-
A lot of work needed...
If there was one team everyone tipped to be relegated this season, it was Viva Kerala, and frankly, it still is. Viva have played five games and lost four, with their solitary victory coming against a hapless Sporting Clube de Goa side. However, it's not lost on observers that the team hasn't been as bad as results would suggest.
Their problem lies mainly in the attacking third, where they haven't created enough chances, and when they have, they go begging. It is this lack of spunk in attack that has prompted them to acquire the services of Thai midfielder Wisut Bunpeng, who looked lively in his first outing against East Bengal. Otherwise, PIO Patrick Sisupalan has looked impressive, with others like Sakeer, Sirajudeen, Sakeer and Sabeeth all being good players.
Their lone victory came against Sporting, where they also scored their first goals in the league, in their fourth game. It was deemed to be a turning point for the side, but they failed to score in their very next game, against East Bengal, a problem Sreedharan will have to address immediately. If Bunpeng gets into his stride and his teammates adapt well to him, Viva can turn it around a bit, but as of now, they still look out of place in the top flight.
League Position: 13th
Grade: D
Solid, but baffling...
Pune FC's sojourn in the I-League has been rather strange. Actually, it's been very strange. They've got a good coach in Derrick Pereira, a professional set up at the club in terms of infrastructure and administration, and some very good players, but something does seem to be missing for Pune FC. How else would one explain five draws in six games, that too when they've dominated most of those matches?
Like Kerala, Pune too have done very well in defence, and midfield, where Venkatesh runs the show, but finishing is an issue with the team at the moment. With Jeje away with the U-19's, and Edmar not looking like the 20 goals per season man,
Pereira might just have to jump into the transfer market again.
The players as well as the coach insist that there's no anxiety creeping into the club, but one can't help but get the feeling that it's a case of them being economical with the truth. While stalwarts like Venkatesh, Douhou, and Subrata Paul have been going about their job as well as expected, players like Arata, Aseem, Selwyn and Jeje have caught the eye too, which implies that Pereira does have a good squad at his disposal.
At least good enough to win a game of football, which they still haven't done. They're only one of two teams with that dubious record at the moment, and will be desperate to change that at the earliest. And they should, with the solid base that they have now, of being unbeaten in their last four games. The Pune faithful have made the Balewadi Sports Complex the place to be on matchdays, and their support will definitely be needed, as they look to turn their luck around, and convert the draws to wins.
League Position: 11th
Grade: B-
As unpredictable as the hilly weather...
Dark horses, unknown quantities, surprise package, the team from Shillong had been labeled with several different names, and one can safely say that they've lived up to most of them. They've been superb at times, woeful at others, but they have brought with them a new energy into the league.
However, they've been too inconsistent for their own liking. They responded superbly in Goa with a victory at Sporting, after being embarrassed by JCT in the opening round, but then were thumped again, this time by Dempo. They turned it around again, winning their first home game by skinning Air India 3-0, but lost once more to Mohun Bagan, despite dominating for the first hour of the game. Unlike the others, they've looked very impressive going forward, but they still lack discipline defensively, which will take some time to inculcate.
With two wins, one draw, and three defeats from their six games so far, you don't know what you're going to get from Lajong, but you know it's going to be exciting, especially when you see them pack their stadium game after game. Thirty thousand people have turned up for every home match of theirs till now, drumming, chanting, and singing their way through the 90 minutes, no matter what the scoreline.
It is this very support that will help them win many a home game this season, and the recent signing of Nepal striker Anil Gurung suggests that they're constantly looking to improve, so the future promises much for Lajong. If only they become slightly consistent, they'll be up there with the best in the country.
League Position: 7th
Grade: B+
Atishay Agarwal
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