ISL 2016: 7 unsung heroes in season three of the Indian Super League so far
The third season of the Indian Super League has finally started getting tasty. NorthEast United might be leading the pack, but a win for any of the teams tends to shuffle the pack and cause a change in two to three places in the league table, underlining the competitive nature of the League.
The ISL, over the years, has seen its share of superstars, with sensational performances from the likes of Stiven Mendoza, Iain Hume and Florent Malouda. This season too, we have seen new pretenders to the throne, where newcomers like Matías Defederico and Emiliano Alfaro are impressing, while Borja Fernandez and Nico Velez have continued from where they left off last season.
But, each team has their own silent assassin, the one who acts as a catalyst to the team’s success. They may not get the plaudits, but they are as important to the team as the air they breathe.
Here is a list of seven unsung heroes in the Indian Super League this season.
#1 Sameehg Doutie
The South African is in his second season with Atletico de Kolkata, and boy is he important. The likes of Iain Hume, Javi Lara and Borja Fernandez seem to get all the limelight (sometimes deservedly so) but Doutie is the one who drives the team.
It is not surprising at all that most of Atletico’s attacks come from the right-hand side of midfield, especially with the kind of delivery the 27-year-old provides regularly into the box. Every time Borja or Tiri have the ball, their first instinct is to switch it to the South African on the right.
Doutie has five goals and six assists in the 17 appearances he has made for the Kolkata franchise, and the numbers show how efficient he has been.
The South African might not be very big and strong, and may not be able to dribble past defenders at will, but he is very intelligent on the ball. He always seems to make the right decision, whether it is putting in a wicked cross into the box or cutting it back to the runner at the edge of the box.
That is why he is indispensable to the Kolkata outfit.