In search of a hit

After last season’s flop, the team has recast itself to dispel gloom

For a region that significantly contributes to Indian football with passion and performers, the wooden spoon finish for the North East Unite FC in ISL’s inaugural edition was heartbreaking. Much like a movie flopping in the premiere NEUFC’s star owner John Abraham saw his dream of delivering a hit going up in smoke.

Despite a fairly strong star cast that had in the lead role Joan Capadevila- a key member of Spain’s World Cup triumph in 2010- NEUFC could not manage the consistency required during the tournament’s tight schedule.

The management sought to redraft the cast, changing both its marquee player and the manager. The second season thus introduced the young and charismatic Venezuelan Cesar Farias as the new manager, in place of New Zealand’s Ricki Herbert.

Farias, who made regular headlines in his five-year stint with the Venezueian national team has promised to dispel the gloom by playing positive football.

Forsaking Spanish flair, the team management went for Portuguese creativity, singing Simao Sabrosa- the Portuguese World Cupper- as the new marquee player. Attack was one area in which the team was in arrears last season, scoring only 11 goals in 14 matches. Simao, a veteran with the experience of playing for top European clubs like Benfica, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, can be a big influence in reviving up the team’s offensive. The others in attack include Senegalese strike Diomansy Kamara, Boubacar Sanogo of Ivory Coast, Argentine Nicolas Velez and India’s own Holicharan Narzary. The franchise has retained the services of Portuguese defender Miguel Garcia and Zambian midfielder Kindwani Mtonga. The defence will have Frenchman Cedric Hengbart partnering Garcia while Porguese Silas joins Simao and Mtonga in the midriff.

The team management retained faith in its native pool of talent, bringing in players from the North East during domestic recruitment. This saw the arrival of young Seityasen Siongh, Regan Singh and the seasoned Marlangki Suting from Royal Wahingdoh. There are more like defender Zohmingliana Ralte goal keeper Lathuanmmawia Ralte Siam Hanghal (both Bengaluru FC) and Sanju Pradhan who are among the new additions, joining ranks with the five retained by the club.