The new season of the Indian Super League has much to offer and promises a lot of exciting football. Take a look at 5 names that are worth keeping an eye on this season as they make their way from the I-League to the ISL.
5. Danish Farooq Bhat
25-year-old Danish Farooq Bhat is on a two-year deal with Bengaluru FC. Danish joined and played for J&K Bank Football Academy during his early teens. An impressive performance and victorious run with his team would eventually lead to him joining I-League second division side Lonestar Kashmir in 2015. In the next season, he was roped in by Real Kashmir.
In the 2017–18 season Danish was the joint highest goal-scorer for the Snow Leopards and also had the most number of assists to his name. He was a key player for his team that season and they went on to win the 2017–18 I-League 2nd Division, thus earning promotion to the I-League.
Danish is an attacking midfielder who is also skillful up the flank. He has had some experience in captaining some of his previous teams.
The talented BFC newcomer is called ‘Kashmiri Ronaldo’ by his admirers due to his dribbling skills and scoring proficiency.
He is the first signing from Jammu and Kashmir for the Blues and awaits an exciting Indian Super League campaign with them.
4. Ruivah Hormipam
20-year-old Ruivah from Manipur is an exciting prospect to watch out for in the ISL. The young centre-back will be donning the Kerala Blasters shirt, a team which poorly finished 10th last season.
Ruivah joined the Blasters in April 2021 on a 3-year deal.
He spent his youth at the Sports Authority of India and was also a regular for the Minerva Punjab youth team. His next destination was Indian Arrows on loan from RoundGlass Punjab, where he played for them in the 2019-20 edition of the I-League. The 2020-21 season saw him return to RoundGlass Punjab after the end of his loan spell.
Ruivah was a part of the national squad that won the 2019 SAFF U-18 Championship in Nepal.
KBFC will be aiming higher and looking to achieve more for the upcoming season and Ruivah’s performance is highly anticipated by all fans.
3. Songpu Singsit
SC East Bengal have managed to get hold of one of the best performing forwards of the previous season of I-League, 22-year-old Songpu Singsit, and he now hopes to keep up his flair in the upcoming edition of the Indian Super League.
Primarily a left-winger, Singsit had been a vital player at his last club Neroca FC and will be a key addition to his current team where he is to stay till the end of the season.
Before being a member of the Orange Brigade, Songpu played for Muvanlai Athletics Sports Club.
His impressive stint with Neroca earned him the Fan’s Emerging Player of the Season vote.
2. Naocha Singh
Former Neroca FC full-back Huidrom Naocha Singh is another I-League experienced player to watch out for in the ISL.
Naocha is on a 3-year deal with Mumbai City FC, reigning champions of the ISL.
The 22-year-old is a product of the Neroca FC youth set up and also played for Neroca FC in the 2018-19 season of the I-League when he returned after a stint with TRAU FC (Tiddim Road Athletic Union FC).
Naocha’s next stop was Gokulam Kerala FC where he turned out to be a vital asset and key to winning the Durand Cup. He tasted success with the Malabarians on many occasions, the most noteworthy being winning the 2020-21 I-League trophy, playing every single minute that season.
Naocha Singh is not unfamiliar to silverware and will be highly important in Mumbai City FC’s run to defend the title.
1. Bidyashagar Singh
This I-League star player joined TRAU at the age of 16 and then kicked off his football career by as an East Bengal youth level player, going on to represent their senior team in 2017.
2020 saw Bidyashagar sign for TRAU for one season. His time at the Imphal based club was quite eventful as he registered 12 goals and an assist to become the highest goal scorer that season.
The 23-year-old acclaimed striker also equaled the record of scoring double hat tricks in a single season of I-League, becoming the second Indian to do so.
Bengaluru FC have signed the promising youngster on a 3-year deal and he has already made an appearance for them. A lot is expected of Singh donning the Blue shirt because of his goal scoring mentality and ability to find space and hit the target.
Bengaluru have not had their most ideal AFC Cup campaign. They shall hope to rejuvenate their squad and spirit for the upcoming edition of the Indian Super League.
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