BANGALORE: From the Indian players’ and the national team’s perspective, the I-League must play an important role in shaping their future. If not, the long-drawn premier club soccer championship will not have served its purpose.
Apart from a year to two since its inception in 1996-97, the I-League has not really thrown up talent that one would sit up and take notice of. In the years gone by, the Santosh Trophy, the national championship for state teams, did exactly that. To the legends of the past, right from goalkeeper and double Olympian (1948 and 1952) KV Varadaraj to Babu Mani (in the mid 1980s), both from Bangalore, the championship served as a platform for footballers to parade their skills, enrich themselves along with their states, and also contribute immensely to the national team’s aspirations. All of India’s glowing performances — the 1956 Olympics semifinal performance, the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games gold medal show, the 1970 Asiad bronze medal show — were based on players being picked up from the Santosh Trophy. In fact, the national selection committee, now disbanded, would sit and watch all the games before finalising the Indian team.
The Federation Cup, the knockout tournament for clubs, also was instrumental in bringing forth many players. Baichung Bhutia, the golden boy of Indian football, was groomed during the Federation Cup games. Yet, the I-League cannot single out any player who came to the fore during the championship.
Fortunately, the 2011-12 tournament promises to turn the tide and provide opportunities for some talented boys to shine and move up the ladder. Among goalkeepers, Salgaocar’s Karanjit Singh has been brilliant and can be expected to do well like last year and contribute effectively to the national team’s cause. Chirag United Kerala’s Saba Saleel heads the bunch of promising defenders. The 21-year-old has loads of stamina and can play up and down the wing to support the defence and the attack tirelessly.
I-League and Federation Cup winners Salgaocar have a very reliable stopper in the 23-year-old Khelemba Meetei. He could be the regular India stopper in the near future if he keeps up his fitness and agility. 20-year old Boithang Haokip of Shillong Lajong played a big role in his team earning promotion to the elite company. Haokip can virtually play himself to a standstill in midfield.
Mohun Bagan’s Jagtar Singh, the India under-23 star, came to the fore in the IFA shield in Kolkata. Turning out for Tata Football Academy in 2009, he scored three goals as TFA stunned East Bengal. Jagtar is bound to be more than a useful striking partner for the ageing Brazilian Jose Ramirez Baretto for the green-and-maroon team.
18-year-old Mohammed Rafique created a sensation when he scored in the final to enable his team Prayag United win the 2010 Durand Cup. Rafique can play as a striker upfront or as a withdrawn forward as well. The upcoming striker has the potential to become India’s No 1 goal-scorer in future. Pune FC also have the immensely talented Jeje Lalpekhlua in their ranks. Jeje has proved his worth with some outstanding performances and he can only get better.
Milagres Gonsalves (Salgaocar), Peter Carvalho (Dempo), Bijay Basfore (Air India), Lalrindika Ralte (Churchill Brothers), Robin Singh (East Bengal), Nishant are potential India stars.
