A poll to pick the best domestic performers in the Indian Super League will include a couple of domestic goalkeepers. The agile Indian custodians are proving more than equal to their counterparts from overseas in the star-studded football tournament that has brought the game back into national reckoning.
The physically well-built custodians from overseas may carry a wealth of experience, name and fame, but the Indians have been clearly hogging the limelight with their agility and acrobatic saves.
It is captivating to find some of the goalkeepers dazzle diving left and right, jump and stretch unbelievably to keep their teams in the hunt for the ultimate glory.
Jan Seda of the Czech Republic and of F.C. Goa has been the goalkeeper to look out for. His stunning athleticism has rescued his side from conceding crucial points.
Defying age, Liverpool legend David James at 44 has been a star performer for the Kerala Blasters, living up to his billing as an iconic player. The ex-England goalie with 53 caps has brought off some spectacular saves in the tournament.
These renowned goalkeepers are expected to inspire their teams, but the exciting performance by the home-grown ones is a big revelation. The Indian team can rest assured that the last man behind them can be trusted.
Rehenesh T.P. of NorthEast United FC and Atletico de Kolkata custodian Subhasish Roy Chowdhury are exceptionally good in keeping the ball away from goal more often than not.
“The foreign goalkeepers are physically efficient and have come with loads of experience, but some are past their prime, though they read the game well and are calm in tense situations,” former Indian team goalkeeper Debasish Mukherjee told IANS .
The Mumbai City FC’s assistant goalkeeping coach said: “The Indian goalies are agile and fast and some of them have been brilliant, like Rehenesh T.P., Subhashis Roy Chowhury, Subrata Paul and Arindam Bhattacharya.”
Pune City has international Bhattacharya along with Italian Emanuele Belardi.
Despite Alexandro Tzorvas in their ranks, NorthEast United have preferred Rehenesh in most of their games to the Greek, who was instrumental in his country making the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Even as he admitted David James was by far the best, ex-Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Shibaji Banerjee asserted the Indian custodians are as good as the international recruits.
“The Indian goalkeepers are as good as their international counterparts. India has always produced talented goalkeepers and they have performed in the ISL as well as the foreigners,” Banerjee, whose acrobatic saves for Mohun Bagan during an exhibition tie in 1977 had earned praise even from rival Cosmos player and football legend Pele, told IANS .
Mumbai City, too, have been relying heavily on Subrata Paul, popularly known as the “Spiderman of India”.
“He has been good, steady, but has let in some very feeble attempts on target which is not expected of a player of his calibre,” Banerjee said about Paul who has had a mix of highs and lows in the tournament.
Impressed by the Indian goalkeepers’ performance in the ISL, both Banerjee and Mukherjee asserted that the tournament was a great platform for nurturing talented Indians and called for developing India’s premier I-League in the same way.
Banerjee will be happy to hear All India Football Federation general secretary Kushal Das say that the ISL and I-League will be merged within five years to make it a 16-team comprehensive tournament played over eight months.
