Chennai: The countdown has begun and the football fans in the country are buzzing with excitement. The second edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) kicks off on Saturday with last year semi-finalists Chennaiyin FC playing hosts to the defending champions Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium here.
ISL's inaugural season surprised us all with both drama and excitement, and it changed the scene of Indian football with stars from around the globe assembling in India. There were a number of breathtaking moments in the first season and ISL-2 will be no different.
Arguably two of the strongest sides come together on match day one of the competition and you can expect it to be a top-draw.
The biggest challenge for ATK will be to defend their crown as they gear up for the season with a fortified squad. Around nine months ago, it was a Mohammed Rafique injury-time header that won them the title in the inaugural edition but this time the contest is going to be tougher as the teams know more than a thing or two about each other.
Chennaiyin were easily the best in the league stages last year as they took the top spot. They have kept their core together and that will be the big plus point going into the tournament. Chennaiyin have already put one over ATK even before the kick-off as they managed to rope in ATK's their star striker of last season, Fikru Tefera. The controversial striker is a sure shot starter for coach Marco Materazzi.
The other two exciting attackers - Elano and Stiven Mendoza - are also still with Chennaiyin'; and if the trio of Fikru, Elano and Mendoza clicks, then ATK will have more than a task at hand. Chennaiyin also broughyt in highly-rated midfielder Thoi Singh in the ISL auction and the lad from Manipur will be making his debut in the tournament on Saturday.
With an Italian in Materazzi at the helm, you always feel Chennaiyin will be a solid defensive team. Veteran defender Mehrajuddin Wadoo is a good purchase to shore the backline, and they did well to retain Bernard Mendy and sign defenders like Raphael Augusto, Alessandro Potenza and Mailson Alves. Undoubtedly, Chennaiyin will try to capitalise on their strength. But with a cap on number of foreigners (4) in the eleven at any stage during the match, Abhishek Das and Dhanachandra Singh might get a nod to start.
On the other hand, ATK have strengthened in every possible way to retain the title. One of the major acquisitions this year for them has been that of Portugal international Helder Postiga, and he will replace Fikru upfront in the eleven. Spanish defender Josemi along with Borja Fernandes - who had a stellar last season with ATK - has been retained for this edition as well and should be in the starting line-up, but there are question marks over Josemi's fitness ahead of the first match.Josemi has injured his knee recently and is a doubtful starter for the opening game.
Another Spanish professional Tiri also got injured during a practice session. Goalkeeper Juan Kalatayud too isn't fully fit while Nallappan Mohanraj is nursing a groin injury that may take a few days to heal. So injuries are a worry for the champions ahead of the opener.
But they still have quality replacements up their sleeves and coach Antonio Habas has enough strength in the squad to come up with solutions. New signings Arata Izumi and Clifford Miranda, along with utility player Rahim Nabi, are expected to bolster in that case.
Bengaluru FC right-back Rino Anto, who was bought by the champion ISL franchisee for a whopping Rs 90 lakh in the auctions this summer, can also get a head-start. Another new buy Iain Edward Hume, though, might have to wait for his debut considering the attacking options ATK have.
But both teams look quiet balanced and it could be a match decided on individual genius or error.
Preseason performances
The Kolkata outfit went on a month-long tour of Madrid to get up and running for the second edition of the ISL, and they registered a perfect win record in the friendly games - both in Spain.
For about a month Chennaiyin's pre-season training base was Stadio Ellera in Corciano, Perugia. They played four practice games against local club sides during their stay in Italy. They defeated Ortana 2-0 and ASD San Donato Tavarnelle 5-1 but lost 2-1 to Gualdo Casacastalda and 2-0 against Unione Sportiva Arezzo.
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