ISL: Atletico de Kolkata- 5 factors behind the team lifting the trophy

Atletico De Kolkata celebrate with trophy after their victory A 2 month long odyssey is over. India’s tryst with football has been lent a new perspective with the Hero Indian Super League. Teams were apprehensive, owners grew worried, but at last it is curtain calls.Atletico de Kolkata are the 1st champions of the ISL. It is a huge moment for the team and everybody associated with it. The Kolkata outfit had showed some absolute fireworks in the opening game. It did not quite match up in the final game. Nevertheless, an injury time header by a hitherto unknown Mohammad Rafique sealed the deal.What led to ATK be the 1st champions of the tournament. Here are 5 top factors to validate the triumph:

#1 Meteoric rise of Edel Bte

Edel Bete- the goal stopping machine

In the inaugural game, Kolkata custodian Subhasish Roy Chowdhury raised eyebrows with a stellar performance. With time, he faded and the spotlight shifted. It was the turn of Armenian Apoula Edel Bte. His predatorily instincts made the difference for ATK.

With every game, his performance went up a few scales. Finally, Bte replaced Roy from the number one position and the latter was a sad onlooker. There were moments when it was all but over until Edel dived and saved. The team huffed and puffed but the Armenian goalkeeper was steady. His nonchalant eyes concealed the goal saving instincts.

Without him, it would have been impossible for this team to reach the pinnacle of success. His pivotal role makes him the man of the tournament for ATK.