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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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