Top 5 foreign players in the Hero I-League 2014/15
Foreigners have always played a determining role in a team’s success in a particular season. All the eleven teams in the I-League are allowed to recruit 4 foreigners each and the quality of foreigners ultimately decides the fate of a side.
The 2013/14 season was no exception as yet again the foreign recruits played a vital role in every team’s performance. Mohun Bagan were emerged victorious after 5 months of prolonged fight and the lion’s share of credit goes to their foreign played who played a stellar role.
Here are the five best foreigners in this season’s Hero I-League.
Sony Norde (Mohun Bagan)
Sony Norde was undoubtedly the best foreign player in this season’s I-League. The Haitian international had joined Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan in this season from Bangladeshi club Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi. Norde had grabbed the attention of Mohun Bagan recruiters last season when he had come to Kolkata in IFA Shield as a part of the Bangladesh contingent. The winger made his debut for Bagan in the Federation Cup and was pretty impressive.
His class was reflected once I-League began. In the club’s debut match against Mumbai FC, Sony Norde had scored the winning goal. Since then the Haitian had managed to net 9 times and provided numerous assists. Some of his goals were eye-catching. He marveled everybody with his skillful moves, speedy runs down the wings and long range goals. He was a determining factor in Bagan’s I-League triumph after 13 years.
Ranti Martins (East Bengal)
The Nigerian is not an unknown face in Indian football. He has been one of the most influential foreigners in the history of National Football League/ I-League. He was the key man upfront for the Red and Gold Brigade. Martins scored 17 goals in this season, bagging his fourth golden boot award. The striker also reached a milestone of 200 goals in the National league and I-League combined. He was exceptional in the East Bengal outfit irrespective of a disappointing performance by his team. Ranti Martins also scored an incredible 5 goals in a game against Dempo SC at Goa.