Coppell demands dominant display from his players

Coppell demands dominant display from his players - indiansuperleagueofficial.blogspot.com

 

Kerala Blasters FC fans have plenty of expectations from their new coach Steve Coppell as their side prepares itself for its opening 2016 Hero Indian Super League encounter against NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday. They have every reason to be buoyed as the Englishman comes with strong credentials having coached clubs like Manchester City, Crystal Palace and Reading in the past.

It’s been a roller-coaster ride for the Kochi-based side over the past two seasons as the success of the inaugural season that saw them finish runners-up quickly dwindled into a last-place finish in what was a chaotic season in 2015. Indiansuperleague.com spoke to 61-year-old Coppell ahead of the 2016 Hero ISL’s curtain-raiser and discussed a variety of subjects. Here are the excerpts from the interview. 

What’s the philosophy of this new-look Kerala Blasters FC?

I don’t think there’s any philosophy we adhere to, I think the only philosophy we have is to try to get the best out of the squad of players we have to win football games. It would be wrong for me to come to any football club or football team and say this how we play and then find the players are not suitable for the philosophy. Myself, my staff came in, we looked at the players and then we trained, started playing and from there we started to develop a style of play, which we hope is going to be successful. We’ve worked very hard for the last four and a half weeks to try and make things efficient and to try to make it forceful going forward. And I will be as interested as anybody come the first game to see where we are at because it’s a very difficult league to compare against other teams when you’re in the preparations. So I’m really looking forward to Saturday because then I’ll have an idea of where we are, how we need to improve, how we need to get better and look forward to the rest of the season.

How important is a good start to the league?

It would be great to have a good start to the league, don’t get me wrong, I think good start would be a huge plus for the team because we’ve been working for five weeks and during that we haven’t had the full squad together but the players who have been with us all that time have committed to a way of preparing. A good start would really put the cap on it and make it all worthwhile I suppose. [However] I noticed a stat this week, the first game last season [for Kerala Blasters FC], the team won 3-1 and they finished bottom of the table. So a good start doesn’t guarantee anything, it’d be nice, don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have a victory on Saturday but it doesn’t guarantee anything. I will be judged, the team will be judged on 14 games initially and then going on to the later stages of the league.

How’s the team gelling?

I think you have to remember that the first week of training for the full seven, eight days we only had 12 outfield players. So we had to change and be aware that we always had players coming in, adding to the squad. It’s only this last week that we had 20 players. In this last week we’ve had a pretty healthy squad in terms of numbers, the teams have more or less been defined in my mind and again I think the players have really got a handle on the challenge ahead. I think now as we get close to the game they realise what is required for the next nine weeks initially and we have to be resilient, we have to be strong, we have to be hardworking and we very much have to have the mentality that if we get knocked down then we jump back up and start again.

How important will wingers be for Kerala Blasters FC this season?

Well I can only say that as a winger myself, I played in the wide areas. All the teams I’ve been associated with have had good wide players and a lot of play coming down the flanks. I’d like to think that this team will be similar but then again if you haven’t got wide players you can’t play wide-play football and I like to think we have got some good strong players but until we see them in action, we can’t really judge them. So wing-play is very important, a lot of goals are scored from wide areas, I would like my team to be dominant, attacking from wide areas.

How intense have the training sessions been?

Again, they’re winding down at the moment, we had a lot of very intense training sessions suddenly early on in the campaign, in our preparation period. First phase of work in Trivandrum and then we went to Thailand and then to Kolkata. At certain spells, we have been pretty hard-working, demanded a lot from the playersphysically and we have tested them mentally to see if they can accept the picture of the way we play. I hope the players are ready to feel that they can play on Saturday because that’s the most important thing. Physically and mentally, they’ve got to feel as if they are happy with their situation come Saturday.

What is the importance of the half-time team talk? How do you motivate the players?

Well, sometimes you don’t want to have a half-time team talk. If you play well, you are a goal or 2-0 up, you don’t want half-time to come. You just want to keep playing. Obviously, things are sometimes aren’t going too well and you need to make some changes at half-time. I don’t think a motivational talk at half-time makes a massive difference. Don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t transfer a team playing badly into a team playing well. I always say football is like a technique. If your technique is wrong, it doesn’t matter how hard you try, it’s not going to work. So it’s the technique of playing that is most important. If changes have to be made, psychological or tactical, then obviously half-time is the period when it needs to be done. A good half-time talk can make a big difference. I don’t think it’s the motivational talk, it’s the tactical change.

How important are the pre-season games for the players and the coach?

They are the yardsticks. They are the only way you can judge. When you are training in pre-season without games, you are just looking at statistics of how fast players run and how many yards they run. With the technology now, you can check heart-rates and you can be a very fit team without being a good footballing side. It’s only when you play against other teams that you can judge and say, ‘We are heading towards the right direction’. Pre-season games are really important. To be honest, I would have liked to play one, or even two more, pre-season games. The Hero ISL is difficult in many ways to find difficult opposition across various parts of India. And we have found that in many ways. It’s been difficult to get the right kind of opposition. We have played only four pre-season games. I would have liked one more.

Coppell: Last year’s result won’t have any bearing on Kerala Blasters’ performance

Coppell: Last year’s result won’t have any bearing on Kerala Blasters’ performance - indiansuperleagueofficial.blogspot.com

Kerala Blasters FC head coach Steve Coppell has insisted that his team’s last-place finish last season won’t affect their Hero ISL 2016 campaign in any way as the Kochi-based side takes the field against NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati in the league curtain-raiser on Saturday.

When reminded of their performance in Hero ISL 2015, the Englishman said: “Well, in a way it’s a good thing because we can’t get any worse. I look at it and say it happened last year and will have no effect on what happens this year because it’s a totally different squad, we’ve re-signed some players but the squad is more or less different,” Coppell said.

He continued: “We certainly have ambitions to finish a lot higher than last season and it just shows you the contrast because the year before the team made the final and last year we finished bottom, I hope we can reverse the trend and be in the final this year.”

Coppell, who makes his Hero ISL debut tomorrow having coached English clubs Manchester City, Crystal Palace and Reading in the past, spoke favourably of the atmosphere in the lead-up to the game.

“It’s been good, we’ve had an interesting journey starting off at Trivandrum five weeks ago and then we spent some time in Thailand and then we were in Kolkata for a week and now we’ve been here in Guwahati for almost a week now.

“I’d like to say thank you to NorthEast who made their facilities available to us. So a big thank you to them and we’ve been made welcome, it’s been a warm welcome from everyone here and I hope we can put on a good game to say thank you to everyone here,” he said.

Coppell, however, refused to measure his team against other teams in the league just on the basis of their pre-season. “I have said several times it’s very difficult to judge because so far we’ve played a couple of games in Thailand, we’ve played a couple of games otherwise. We look at the other teams on paper and the players they have, international players and Indian players and because we haven’t played anyone in India yet, it’s very hard to judge the level where you are against them. It’s only after two-three games that you can judge that whether the work you’ve done is correct work,” the 61-year-old, who played as a winger for Manchester United from 1975-83, said.

Coppell also played down the notion that the format of the league that often requires teams to feature thrice in a week is way too demanding. “I think you’ll find most international players come from leagues where they play Saturday-Wednesday so they are very much used to playing three games in seven days. If you average this out [Hero ISL’s format] it probably comes to a game every 4 or 5 days.

“The thing that makes it more difficult is the travelling and it’s demanding but that’s why you have a big squad and you have to have a big squad you have confidence in, this is one league where it isn’t about your best 11, it’s about your 25 performing on a weekly basis and that is the challenge.

“Recruitment is the most important process in any football club, you know it’s very important you get the best players and it sounds stupid but the best players don’t always make the best teams, you know it’s that chemistry of how they gel together, and again it’s more demanding here because if you look at our team we have Indians, South Africans, we have French, Haitians, Spaniards, English.

“There is such a cultural mix and to try to get them thinking the same way, playing within the framework of a team is the most important thing. And the team that is most successful at end of December is the team that has accomplished that feat,” he said

Molina plays down revenge talk ahead of Chennaiyin showdown

Molina plays down revenge talk ahead of Chennaiyin showdown - indiansuperleagueofficial.blogspot.com

Atlético de Kolkata had the better of Chennaiyin FC last season in the Hero Indian Super League winning three out of four contests. However, their one loss in the first leg of their semi-final by 3-0 made their wins insignificant as they conceded the tie 4-2 on aggregate and the Super Machans went on to become champions.

A lot has changed since then. There is a new coach at ATK in the form of Francisco Molina and in less than 24 hours his side faces the defending champions in their new home, the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium. In the lead-up to the match, there has been talk of ATK being ready to avenge their biggest and most significant defeat of the last season but addressing the media on Saturday, Molina dismissed such suggestions without thinking twice.

“In football it is not about revenge. They won last season and they won and we cannot do nothing about that. If we win tomorrow we won’t be playing the final of last season. This is not revenge. This is a new season, a new beginning and we have to focus on this season, only on tomorrow’s match. The next match is the most important and forget the past. We have to be focused and do our best, trying to win on the field,” Molina said.

The Spaniard also acknowledged that they were up against a quality team but also said that wasn’t going to deter them much. “My first match in the ISL, I’m excited about that. We had a very good pre-season in Spain and now a 10-day training period in Kolkata with the full team. And I’m just happy with the players. I think we are ready and have absolute confidence in the team and the players. To start with the champion team is always difficult. They are a strong team and will be a tough match. But I have confidence in my team and we are ready to face the opposition, to do our best and try to win.”

The 46-year-old former goalkeeper also set his expectations straight from marquee player Helder Postiga. The Portuguese striker didn’t feature again in Hero ISL 2015 after picking up injury in the league opener against Chennaiyin. “We hope Helder Postiga can help us a lot. Last year he was unlucky with the early injury. He couldn’t play. He scored two goals in the one match he played. Hope he can play at least 10 matches [so that] he can score 20, it will be great. Postiga is of course the marquee and very important for us. We are trying to help him to be at his best,” he said.

Molina also spoke favourably of the Indian players in the ATK squad. “I’m absolutely happy with the Indianplayers. They work really hard. They are always trying to improve. They are always trying to learn. Sometimes the language can be a problem, but I told them to ask me questions.

“They ask a lot, they are ready. Some couldn’t come to Spain for pre-season, consequently losing a month of training session but now after 10 days in Kolkata, I can say they worked hard. I’m really happy with a lot ofplayers,” he said.

Apart from Molina, another new aspect of Sunday’s game is the venue, the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium. After two seasons at the Salt Lake Stadium, ATK will play their all home games here this season. When asked if the unfamiliarity with the new stadium could be a hindrance, Molina said: “I think today will be the first day we go to the stadium and train. We can now know something about the stadium. I’m sure the club has worked a lot to prepare the ground. I’m sure it will be a great stadium for us.”

Molina also discussed his style which appears to be not very different from that of his predecessor at ATK, Antonio Habas. “We will try to be an aggressive team in attack and defence. We will look to have possession of the ball, move forward, try and score. But you can’t have possession for full 90 minutes. If you only attack or defend well, then you are not a strong team, then you are doing half the work,” he said.

Materazzi insists Chennaiyin are starting from scratch in new season

Materazzi insists Chennaiyin are starting from scratch in new season - indiansuperleagueofficial.blogspot.com

Chennaiyin FC kick-start their Hero Indian Super League title defence against Atlético de Kolkata at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium in Kolkata on Sunday. It promises to be an exciting game of football as ATK look to avenge the heartbreak of their dramatic semi-final exit at the hands of Chennaiyin FC last year.

The southern-outfit, on the other hand, will be going into the match with the defeat they suffered in the season opener last year preying on their minds. Chennaiyin head coach Marco Materazzi will also have to deal with the tag of the hunted after being part of the chasing pack last season. However, the Italian was quick to play down any speculation of the added pressure that comes along with being reigning champions.

“So this is a new year. We start from zero. All teams start from zero with the same budget…Everything is new this year and everybody starts from zero. So there is no extra pressure,” said the former World Cup-winning Azzurri defender.

In spite of losing three out of four meetings between the two sides last year, Chennaiyin FC, in the larger picture, got the best result courtesy of their 3-0 semi-final win against ATK in the first leg, which proved to be decisive. The new season, however, will see the Super Machans take the field without their top-scorers from the previous two seasons in Elano and Stiven Mendoza. When pressed on if the absence of the Golden Boot winners from Hero ISL 2014 and Hero ISL 2015 will have any bearing on their campaign, Materazzi insisted that football is a team game and not about individuals.

“First of all, I’m happy to be here for the third year and I’m proud to be here. Every year you start again and for me there is no key player, there is only the team. Last year, we have shown we can be a strong team. I want to thank all the players that were there with me last year, particularly Bruno Pelissari, but as I said, every year is different. We will start this adventure again with new players and what matters actually is the team, and there are no key players,” he said.

Also, all eyes will be on Jeje Lalpekhlua in Hero ISL 2016 in the absence of their top-scorers from the last two seasons. Jeje, who is touted as Indian football’s hottest property, is also the highest scoring Indian in the league with 10 goals. When asked for his thoughts on Lalpekhlua, Materazzi was effusive in his praise, labelling the 25-year-old striker as the ‘best player’ in India. “I think Jeje should not just be the best striker, he should be the best player of India. And I’m not just saying this because we have him on our team. He really is a really, really good player. His growth was amazing, and over two years unbelievable. He is a very important player for me but also for India as well. And he is an icon that can help develop football in India,” he said.

Hero ISL 2016 opens in Guwahati amid much fanfare

Hero ISL 2016 opens in Guwahati amid much fanfare - indiansuperleagueofficial.blogspot.com

 

Hero Indian Super League 2016 was declared officially open after a spectacular opening ceremony at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday. India's Olympic silver medallist at Rio 2016, PV Sindhu was one of the star attractions at the ceremony, which also witnessed a wonderful dance performance by Bollywood superstar Jacqueline Fernandez.

Jacqueline's gig was followed by the entry of NorthEast United FC owner Mr John Abraham, Chennaiyin FC co-owner Mr Abhishek Bachchan and Indian cricket legend Mr MS Dhoni. Mr Bachchan took to the stage with his side's Hero ISL trophy and engaged in some friendly banter with Mr Abraham before Chennaiyin FC's other co-owner Mr Dhoni made his entry to a rapturous and warm welcome from the crowd.

However, the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Kerala Blasters FC co-owner and Indian cricket icon Mr Sachin Tendulkar. Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt performed next and mesmerised the crowd with her breath-taking dancing moves.

FC Goa's brand ambassador and movie star Varun Dhawan was next up on stage. He was followed by the Founding Chairperson of Football Sports Development Mrs Nita Ambani, who elaborated on the Hero ISL's grassroots programme that has reached 1.3 million children.

She then awarded Mumbai City FC the “Best Grassroots Programme” for the second year running. Co-owner Mr Ranbir Kapoor received the award on behalf of his side. The ceremony ended with Olympic silver medallist Sindhu who handed over the official match ball - Puma Evo Pro 1.3 - to Mrs Ambani, who declared, “Come on India, Let's Football.”

Preview: Battle of the champions as ATK host Chennaiyin in their new home

Battle of the champions as ATK host Chennaiyin in their new home - indiansuperleagueofficial.blogspot.com

Champions of the inaugural season Atlético de Kolkata kick-start their 2016 Hero Indian Super League campaign against reigning champions Chennaiyin FC at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium on Sunday. This will be ATK's first game in their new home and they'll be gunning to set the record straight after bowing out at the semi-final stage last season in dramatic fashion against Chennaiyin. The Super Machans, on the other hand, will be looking for a better start to the season than they had last year when they lost their opening fixture to ATK at home by a 3-2 score-line.

Head-to-head: The two sides have faced each other six times in the past two seasons with ATK boasting a better record of three wins to Chennaiyin's one. Hero ISL 2015 saw Kolkata inflict three wins on Chennai with one 3-2 win and two 2-1 victories. However, the only Chennaiyin FC win in the first leg of the last year's semis against ATK is perhaps the most telling result of them all given that its 3-0 margin set up a virtually unassailable deficit for ATK to overcome in the second leg. The two meetings between these two sides in Hero ISL 2014 ended in 1-1 and 0-0 draws.

Key battles:

Arnab Mondal vs Jeje Lalpekhlua - indiansuperleagueofficial.blogspot.com

Arnab Mondal vs Jeje Lalpekhlua

Arnab Mondal will have his work cut out on Sunday as he tries to contain his international team-mate Jeje Lalpekhlua from getting the better of him. The India international is the only domestic player to have been part of the ATK set-up since the first edition of the league and will once again be a first-choice starter at centre-back this season. His ability to sniff out danger with his intelligent positional sense as well as his no non-sense style of defending will be crucial to ATK's chances on Sunday.

The highest scoring Indian in the history of the league, Lalpekhlua will have to have a big season for the Super Machans this year if they are to retain their title. He enters his third season with the southern-outfit with the added responsibility of being their main goal-scorer. The 25-year-old will be looking to give his side the perfect start against ATK on Sunday as he looks to better his tally of six goals and three assists from last year. Jeje will also be looking to get his name on the scoresheet against ATK again just as he did in Chennai's 3-0 win in the first leg of the semis last year.

Borja Fernandez vs Raphael Augusto

The magnitude of Borja Fernandez's importance in ATK's midfield came to the surface last year when he was substituted from the first leg of the semis against Chennaiyin due to injury and didn't play in the second leg. An inspirational figure in midfield for Kolkata, his ability to smash the ball into the net from virtually anywhere on the pitch as well as his aggression in a tackle has been vital for Kolkata over the past two seasons. A true leader on the field, Borja will be expected to help his side bring back the trophy to Kolkata this year.

One of the best performers for Chennaiyin FC in Hero ISL 2014, Raphael Augusto will be itching to get started after missing out on the latter part of his side's title surge last year. The Brazilian midfielder completed 66 tackles and 588 passes in Hero ISL 2015. His positional sense and instinct for danger that often sees him in the right place at the right time is a major plus for Chennai. Augusto is also more than capable of seamlessly linking the midfield to attack and will be looking to stamp his authority on the game in Kolkata.

Iain Hume vs Bernard Mendy

One of Hero ISL's biggest names, Iain Hume enters the third edition of the league on the back of an 11-goal season for ATK. The Canadian striker will be raring to go again with the happy memories of his first home goal for Kolkata coming against Chennaiyin FC last season. He also netted a left-footed screamer in the second leg of the semis against the Super Machans last year and will be hoping to add to his already handsome goal tally against the southern outfit.

A commanding presence at the back for Chennaiyin, Bernard Mendy has become a fan-favourite for the Super Machans after awe-inspiring performances over the past two years for the side. His ability to deliver on both ends of the pitch as well as his leadership on the field was vital for Chennai in their title run-in and will once again be crucial for them this season.

Squads:

Atlético de Kolkata: Shilton Paul, Debjit Majumder, Dani Mallo Castro, Tiri, Arnab Mondal, Pritam Kotal, Kinshuk Debnath, Prabir Das, Pablo Gallardo, Robert Lalthlamuana, Borja Fernandez, Ofentse Nato, Javier 'Javi' Lara Grande, Sameehg Doutie, Stephen Pearson, Bikash Jairu, Bikramjit Singh, Lalrindika Ralte, Sheikh Jewel Raja, Abhinash Ruidas, Bidyananda Singh, Helder Postiga, Iain Hume, Juan Belencoso

Chennaiyin FC: Karanjit Singh, Pawan Kumar, Duwayne Kerr, Bernard Mendy, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Nallappan Mohanraj, Eli Sabia, Eder Monterio, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Abhishek Das, John Arne Riise, Baljit Sahni, Hans Mulder, Manuele Blasi, Thoi Singh, Raphael Augusto, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Dhanpal Ganesh, Davide Succi, Maurizio Peluso, Bedashwor Singh, Uttam Rai, Jeje Lalpekhlua

Hero ISL 2016 - NorthEast United FC Team Profile

FC Goa's diminutive Spanish maestro

Hero ISL 2016 - Delhi Dynamos Team Profile

Edel Bete - FC Pune City's "Golden" fortress

Sachin and Sourav - Fans Bhi Khelenge

Delhi Dynamos FC girls team advance to quarter finals of Subroto Cup, beat CBSE girls 22-0

Delhi Dynamos FC girls team advance to quarter finals of Subroto Cup, beat CBSE girls 22-0 - indiansuperleagueofficial.blogspot.in

Delhi Dynamos Football Club girl’s youth team registered an emphatic 22-0 victory over the CBSE Girls in their Group H encounter at the New Willingdon Camp here today, to remain unbeaten in their group and march into the quarterfinals of the Under 17 category of the 2016 Subroto Cup.

The Delhi Dynamos F.C. eves team, who started their campaign with a 7-0 victory over MP, and were awarded a bye in their last match against Tamil Nadu, entered the match as a strong favorite. They lived up to the billing and propelled an onslaught from the word go with left back Navneet Kaur drawing first blood as early as the third minute of the match.

They could hardly recover from the early blow as Delhi Dynamos F.C.’s striker Renu doubled their woes in the next minute with a clean strike, first of her 13 goals during the course of the match. It opened the floodgates and the Lioness’ launched a scathing attack on their opponents scoring goals at will with CBSE players running for shelter. They were toying with their opponents and this time it was their central midfielder Anjali Syal who found the back of the nets in the 8th minute. The goal fiesta continued and Renu the tormentor-in -chief pumped in nine more goals in the 10th, 15th, 20th, 30th,31st, 33rd,35th, 40th, 42nd, 43rd, 50th and 60th minutes of the match.

She was well supported by Syal, who followed her first goal with two more in the 39th and 54th minutes of the game to complete a majestic treble. The duo were well supported by Kaur, Mona, Yachika Garg and Bharti. While Mona added one more to her tally after her first goal, whereas Yachika and Bharti ticked the score sheet with a goal apiece.

The Delhi Dynamos F.C team will now take play in their quarterfinals on September 30, and their opponent is yet to be announced.

Edel Bete: FC Pune City's "Golden" fortress

Edel Bete - FC Pune City's  - indiansuperleagueofficial.blogspot.in

One of the prime custodians of Hero ISL, Edel Bete has had a scintillating career in the Indian subcontinent. His lightning-fast reflexes and commanding presence has left many attackers frustrated to the core.

The former Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper put a stamp on his reputation early on by making a majestic save to deny Michael Chopra a goal in the 2014 final, one which earned him effusive praise from the former Kerala Blaster’ player-coach, David James. Following up on his excellent save percentage figure of 86.3% in the inaugural campaign, the Cameroonian-born Armenian won the Golden Glove award for his brilliance between the sticks last season and will vie for similar honours with his new home, FC Pune City.

Players who could prove to be surprising elements of Hero ISL 2016

Players who could prove to be surprising elements of Hero ISL 2016 - indiansuperleagueofficial.blogspot.in

Over the past two seasons of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL), India’s biggest footballing extravaganza has been more than just a platform for highly rated talents to realise their potential. It has acted as a launch-pad for big names to show us just what all the fuss is about, while also unearthing rough diamonds on a consistent basis. With Hero ISL 2016 now just days away and expected to be bigger than ever, we take a look at a few key individuals who are likely to have a major say in their team’s fortunes.

Matias Defederico (Mumbai City FC)

A flair player with attributes to capture the imagination of the audience, Argentine winger Matias Defederico will be looking to inspire Mumbai City FC to their maiden semi-final appearance this year. Already an influential figure for Mumbai, Defederico has enjoyed a good pre-season with the club. He scored once against Dubai Cultural Sports Club and provided frequent assists during Mumbai City FC’s 35-day pre-season tour to Dubai, from which they returned unbeaten. Head coach Alexandre Guimaraes will be hoping that Defederico can carry his early promise into the upcoming season and set the Hero ISL stage ablaze.

Pitu Comadevall (FC Pune City)

A product of Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy, Pitu Comadevall is another name that could be on everyone’s lips by the end of the season. An intelligent orchestrator of play from midfield, Pitu’s vision on the ball and his ability to pick out his teammates courtesy of eye-of-the-needle passes will definitely catch more than a few defensive backlines off guard this year. A team player, Pitu is just as efficient while tracking back and defending for his side. His smart positional sense and ability to unlock defences will have a major say on how the Stallions perform this season.

Kean Lewis (Delhi Dynamos FC)

A pacey winger with the ability to go past defenders in tight spaces, Kean Lewis heads into Hero ISL 2016 as one of the most highly rated domestic talents. The 24-year-old already found the back of the net for Delhi Dynamos FC during their pre-season game against Swedish club Assyriska BK. He loves taking on full-backs, hugging the touchline and providing mouth-watering crosses from the wings, so that strikers can attack. A decent finisher himself, Lewis can be expected to have his fair share of assists and goals too.

Yusa Katsumi (NorthEast United FC)

A highly experienced player with exemplary work ethics, 28-year-old Yusa Katsumi from Japan will have a huge role to play in the upcoming season for NorthEast United FC. The talented playmaker comes with an abundance of experience of football in India and is expected to hit the ground running for the Highlanders. He has enjoyed a strong pre-season with NorthEast and is certain to play a major role in head coach Nelo Vingada’s plans.

Davide Succi (Chennaiyin FC)

Davide Succi will have big boots to fill for Chennaiyin FC this season as the reigning champions and top-scorers from last year look to become the first team to successfully defend the Hero ISL trophy. In Succi, Chennaiyin have perhaps found the ideal replacement for Stiven Mendoza to spearhead their attack, and judging by his goal-scoring prowess in the Super Machans’ pre-season matches, the passionate Chennai fans will not be disappointed. The veteran striker is more than just a goal-scorer, however, and his overall game that features attributes like shielding the ball from defenders with his back to goal fits perfectly into Chennai’s style of play.

Mendy: Chennaiyin FC's proven phenomenon

Mendy: Chennaiyin FC's proven phenomenon - indiansuperleagueofficial.blogspot.in

The turnaround in Chennaiyin FC’s fortunes and their subsequent surge to the 2015 Hero Indian Super League trophy coincided with a return to form for the robust French defender. The former Paris Saint-Germain, Bolton Wanderers and Hull City defender’s performances towards the business end of the last season were absolutely pivotal in the southern outfit’s coronation.

The veteran centre-back made 17 blocks, 22 interceptions, 34 tackles and 71 clearances for the Super Machans. Equally effective on the opposite end of the pitch, Mendy along with FC Goa’s Gregory Arnolin head into the upcoming season as Hero ISL’s highest scoring defenders with three goals each. While his bicycle-kick in the inaugural edition of the league against Kerala Blasters FC remains one of the highlights of his time with Chennaiyin, it can also be argued his two goals last season had even more impact when taking into consideration that his side were rock bottom halfway through the league stage.

Comfortable playing the ball out of defence, his passing accuracy of 87% last year was better than most midfielders in the league. His flamboyant style of play and consistency that saw him notch up a few important Hero-of-the-Match awards in the business end of the league stage last year has made him a firm fan favourite. Head coach Marco Materazzi can be safe in the knowledge that Mendy will once again be marshalling the Super Machans as they look to retain the title and concede the least number of goals for the second season running.

Delhi Dynamos F.C. hold B.K. Hacken to an inspiring 2-2 draw

Delhi Dynamos F.C. hold B.K. Hacken to an inspiring 2-2 draw - indiansuperleagueofficial.blogspot.in

Delhi Dynamos Football Club continued their impressive run of form as they made a stunning comeback, thanks to their skipper Florent Malouda to pull off a thrilling 2-2 draw against the Swedish top-tier football club B.K. Hacken at the Bravida Arena here on Thursday.

Delhi Dynamos F.C. playing against B.K. Hacken for the second time in as many years, were chasing the match for the majority of the duration. At one point it looked like, the Lions will crash to their second defeat against the Swedish side, but a brace by Malouda saw them restore parity twice much to the delight of their head coach Gianluca Zambrotta, assuring a promising future for North India’s only Hero ISL club back home this year.

The hosts started off well and took the attack right to Delhi Dynamos F.C. from the onset and drew the first blood in the match through Alhassan Kamara, who scored as early as three minutes into the match. Dynamos regrouped immediately and almost snatched the equalizer in the fifth minute with Kean Lewis hitting a stinging shot, but unfortunately it landed wide.

After the early shock, the Delhi Dynamos F.C. squad started to grow into the game, with their players linking up well and creating difficulties for their opponent. They came real close to scoring again in the 18th minute when Milan Singh attempted to score from a distance. He got into a great position and fired in a long ranger, which missed the target by a mean margin. With the Lions in firm control of the proceeding, Hacken conjured up a counterattack much against the run of play and nearly scored their second goal of the night in the 25th minute, but it was Toni Doblas’ fine save that averted the danger.

With time running out in the first half, Delhi Dynamos F.C. were frantically pressing for an equalizer. They had another try at the goal in the 40th minute when David Addy’s shot on target was saved by the Gettiranga goalkeeper, who made a superb full stretch dive to keep his team’ lead intact. Just ahead of the half time whistle, the Lions had one more attempt at the goal, but as has been the story for the evening, luck deserted them again and Lewis’ shot landed just wide off the target.

With the half time whistle blown, teams walked into the tunnel with a scoreline of 1-0 in favour of the hosts, but even though the away side was down in the match, they were clearly the better team on the pitch and were unfortunate to have not scored a goal after having come so close on multiple occasions.

At the change of ends, as when the Lions were settling into the game, the Black and Yellow’s seized the opportunity and took the lead for the second time in the match through John Owoeri in the 55th minute. With the scoreline reading 2-0 it brought back memories of last year, and it looked like the Lions were on course of a second successive defeat at the Bravida, but the setback did not peg down the away side, and they shifted to damage control mode and were awarded a penalty in the 59th minute, when a rushing Malouda was fouled in the box. With sight set firmly on the target, the Frenchmen stepped up to take the spot kick and he buried the ball at the back of the nets with a vicious left footer, which saw the keeper dive the other way.

With more than half an hour left for the final whistle to be blown, it was payback time for Delhi Dynamos F.C. They kept making nippy runs through the midfield, and launched an array of scathing attacks on the home side. Brazilian Emerson Gomes, the new signing for Delhi Dynamos F.C. who made his debut for the club in the match, showed what the fans could expect from him in the season. He was controlling the game beautifully from the deep lying midfield position and had almost scored a goal on his first outing, when he drilled in a powerful shot from 35 yards, only for it to go over the bar.

With time running out for the Lions, Malouda took affairs in his own hands and came up with couple of goal-scoring opportunities, only to be denied on both occasions. But as luck would have it, his perseverance finally paid off as he scored his second of the match when he rose the highest to head a cross from Amoes Do to send the ball crashing at the back of the nets. With not much time left, both the teams made desperate attempts at sneaking in another goal, but it proved futile as the teams settled for a well-fought draw.

Delhi Dynamos F.C. sign Brazilian midfielder Emerson Gomes for Hero India Super League 2016

Delhi Dynamos F.C. sign Brazilian midfielder Emerson Gomes for Hero India Super League 2016 - indiansuperleagueofficial.blogspot.in

Delhi Dynamos Football Club the Delhi based Hero Indian Super League club continued their strategic acquisition of players and has added the Brazilian midfielder Emerson Gomes de Moura to their squad for the upcoming season.

The 28 year old, who primarily plays as a holding midfielder, but can also operate on the flanks if needed, is the latest foreign addition to the Delhi Dynamos’ roster and joins the club from Brazilian club America F.C, which plays in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C. His arrival will not only add more strength to the midfield but will also increase the versatility quotient of the team, which has been one of main focuses for the Lions while building the team for the coming season.

He has joined the Lions’ squad in Sweden where they are undergoing their pre-season training and is likely to feature in the friendlies for that the Delhi Dynamos F.C. are slated to play in Sweden.

Nicknamed as Memo, he has played for different clubs across Brazil. Having made his senior debut with the famous Brazilian club Santa Cruz where he rose through the youth ranks, he has gone on to play for some of the well-known clubs of Brazil including Botafogo-PB, Ponte Preta and America F.C. featuring in a total of 128 club games.

“It is a great opportunity for me to play in a fast growing league, and for that I would like to thank the Delhi Dynamos management for extending this offer to me. People talk a lot about ISL back in Brazil, as many big Brazilian players like Roberto Carlos and others have featured in the previous two seasons. It is a new experience for me, and I am looking forward to this challenge.” Memo said.

Head coach Gianluca Zambrotta was pleased with the signing and feels the new acquisition adds to the strength of Delhi Dynamos F.C.’s midfield this season.

“His addition to the side will strengthen the team’s midfield. He has played for different clubs across Brazil and I believe the experience that he has gained over the years will be of immense help to the team.” Zambrotta said.

“We welcome Memo to the Delhi Dynamos F.C. family. He is our third Brazilian signing this year and we are really happy to have him onboard with the Lions” said, the Club’s Chief Technical Officer Mr. Vishnu Madhu.