ISL 2016: Best XI for Season 3
Season 3 of the Indian Super League kicks off on the 1st of October, 2016; with 8 teams contesting Indian football’s biggest extravaganza. 214 players are spread out across the league, with plenty of quality, both foreign and Indian, on offer.
With the player of season last year, John Stiven Mendoza missing, there will be those who think that the ISL is a bit low on quality this year. However, with the likes of Diego Forlan making their bow this year, there should be plenty of superb moments to look forward to, with these 11 players the most likely to make ISL 2016 memorable.
Here are the best XI players from ISL 2016
Goalkeeper
Apoula Edel Bete (FC Pune City)
The Armenian goalkeeper was highly sought after by all eight of the ISL clubs this summer, but FC Pune City won out in the end, no doubt because the Cameroonian-born goalkeeper wanted to reunite with his former manager Antonio Habas, with whom Edel won the inaugaral season of the Indian Super League for Atletico de Kolkata.
Apart from his undoubted goalkeeping talent, Edel is also a superstitious buy, as he won Season 2 of ISL with Chennaiyin FC as well. He could well become the first ever footballer to win three successsive titles with three different teams, if FC Pune City go all the way.
Speaking to the official website of the ISL, Edel pinpointed his favourite moments, saying “The 83rd-minute save in the final to deny Kerala Blasters an advantage after which a last-minute goal by Mohammed Rafique gave us the win is something I will cherish the most from the first season. And mind you I was injured in that game and could not kick the ball with my right leg. Last season, when I was playing for Chennaiyin FC against ATK in the semi-finals, I made some crucial saves which I was happy about.”