Hero I-League: Top 5 Midfielders of 2019-20

by Rounak Majumdar April 15, 2020

The 13th edition of the Hero I-League saw a steady pool of overseas and local talents who have impressed everyone. We take a closer look at the players who we feel deserve a mention for their continued efforts:

Sanju Pradhan:

The 30-year-old Sikkimese midfielder has been on the radar of Indian football for a prolonged time now. Sanju Pradhan is a veteran Indian football legend who has had a glittering career for close to 20 years. Signing for Punjab FC this year, he has played a monumental role for the team. Sanju was a part of all the 16 matches averaging at a staggering 87 minutes per game. With his experience and his individual prowess, Sanju’s addition to the team gave Punjab FC a very positive start to the campaign. Sanju averaged 40 passes per match at a 78% pass completion rate in the entire season. Alongside many crucial contributions, he also has a goal to his name this season.

Sheikh Sahil:

Indian football found a 19-year-old sensation in Sheikh Sahil this season. Sahil, who had his debut for Mohun Bagan was outstanding the entire campaign. In his very first season at the I-League, Sk Sahil got a chance to play 17 matches for Mohun Bagan and was seen in the starting XI in most of the games. He averaged 31 passes a game with 86% accuracy. Not only did Sk Sahil astonish everyone with his passing abilities, what amused every fan is his defensive capabilities. He averaged an astounding ball recovery and percentage. With the season coming to an end, all the big entities of Indian football are trying to rope in the Calcutta based young midfielder.

Joseba Beitia:

At the start of the season, Mohun Bagan appointed three Spanish players in key positions. Amongst them was Joseba Beitia. The 29-year-old midfield general has proved his mettle since the Durand Cup. Beitia played 17 matches for the Mariners in I-League and proved himself to be a pivotal part of the squad. Mohun Bagan’s comprehensive title victory was facilitated by Beitia’s magic. He averaged with an assist in all the matches. No wonder he had an assist to his name in all the games as his 86% accuracy saw Beitia play the maximum passes in each game. Joseba Beitia has also netted 4 goals this season. As the club foresees a better future under new ownership, the fans are pretty sure that amongst the several to be retained, Joseba is a must.

Bazie Armand:

The Ivorian defensive midfielder has been a known name in the Indian football circuit since 2016. He has been plying his trade for Real Kashmir in the past two seasons. Playing 15 matches this season, Bazie has been instrumental for the team. Bazie is famous for his robustness at the back. With his defensive capabilities, he has proved himself to be a pipeline for attacking buildups. As his statistics clearly state, Bazie has been fuming while his team lost possession. With an average of 15 challenges per match, Bazie has managed to retain possession most of the times. Apart from his defensive contribution, he had several assists to his name and scored twice. Bazie, who is currently 28, seems to continue with the team up from the beautiful valley in the next few seasons.

Glan Martins:

Glan had a formidable season with Churchill Brothers. Hailing from Goa, Glan has been a renowned name in Goan football. He played 14 matches for Churchill Brothers this season. Glan average 39 passes per game with an 80% accuracy. The 25-year-old is a noteworthy prospect and has the potential to don the national colours in the near future.

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