BENGALURU: The 2014-15 I-League will witness marquee players who represented their national teams in World Cup soccer between 2002 and 2010.
Dempo’s Costa Rican star Carlos Hernandez was always an important part of the national team. He played in the under-20 World Youth Championship in Argentina and also represented Costa Rica in the Under-23 team at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He also played for the senior team during the 2006 World Cup qualifiers and scored some crucial goals. Naturally, he was part of the World Cup squad and came on as a substitute in the group games against Ecuador and Poland.
East Bengal’s Leonidas Christos “Leo” Bertos, 33, is an attacking midfielder who made his international debut for New Zealand against Iran and represented New Zealand over 50 times later. Leo represented New Zealand at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa. Leo was named in the final squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Bertos played in all three games at the World Cup, as New Zealand played a 1–1 draw with Slovakia, a 1–1 draw with reigning world champions Italy, and a 0–0 draw against Paraguay.
Mohun Bagan’s Pierrie Boya turned out for Cameroon between 2005 and 2007 in many international assignments.
Then you have World Cup trio from Trinidad & Tobago, playing for diffferent clubs. Royal Wahingdoh’s Densil Theobald was a regular for Trinidad and Tobago and figured in all three of their World Cup games in Germany in 2006.
After the legendary Dwight Yorke and Dennis Lawrence hung thir boots up, Theobald has led ‘Soca Warriors’ with great distinction. Shillong Lajong’s Cornell Glen, who played last year too, is not a newcomer. Glen was also in the Trinidad and Tobago squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. Glen also played in all three of their group games against Sweden, England and Paraguay.
Sporting Clube’s Anthony Wolfe was also part of the Trinidad and Tobago’s squad in the 2006 World Cup, and has represented his national team on 23 occasions since 2003. Salgaocar’s Francis Kasonde was a member of the Zambian national team. He made his international debut in 2005.
There are a number of other familiar and not so familiar names on the rolls of all the clubs. Possibly, not since the days of Stephen Aborawei, Samuel Omollo, Jose Baretto, Igor Schirivin and the late Cristiano Junior. in the 90s has the league witnessed such talent.
Foreigners in I-League
1. Bengaluru FC: Joshua Walker, John Johnson (both England), Curtis Osano (Kenya), Sean Rooney (Australia).
2. East Bengal: Leo Bertos (New Zealand), Ranti Martins, Dudu Omagbemi (both Nigeria), Milan Susak (Australia).
3. Dempo: Carlos Hernández (Costa Rica), Calum Angus (England), Zohib Islam Amiri (Afghanistan), Tolgay Ozbey (Australia).
4. Salgaocar FC: F Kasonde (Zambia), Douhou Pierre (I Coast), Darryl Duffy (Scotland).
5. Pune FC: Darko Nikac (Montenegro) Luciano Sabrosa (Brazil), Eric Brown (Liberia), Ryuji Sueoka (Japan).
6. Mohun Bagan: Pierre Boya (Cameroon), Sony Norde (Haiti), Bello Razaq (Nigeria), Katsumi Yusa (Japan).
7. Sporting Clube: Anthony Wolfe (Trinidad & Tobago), Ogba Kalu Nnanna (Nigeria), Koffi Dan Kowa (Niger), Boima Karpeh (Australia).
8. Mumbai FC: Josimar (Brazil), Chika Wali (Nigeria), Taisuke Matsugae (Japan).
9. Shillong Lajong: Cornell Glen (Trinidad & Tobago), Kondwani Mtonga, Isaac Chansa (both Zambia), Minchol Son (North Korea).
10. Royal Wahingdoh: Densil Theobald (Trinidad & Tobago), Loveday Okechukwu (Nigeria), Bekay Bewar (Liberia), Korea Kim Seng-Yong (North Korea).
11. Bharat FC: Kris Bright (New Zealand), Bobby Hassell (England).
