Kochi: FC Pune City, co-owned by the Rajesh Wadhawan Group and Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor, have one of the best line-ups on paper heading into the fifth edition of the Indian Super League (ISL).
Coached by Spaniard Miguel Angel Portugal, the ‘Stallions’ will be looking forward not only to improve on their fourth-place finish last year, but also to take home the elusive crown.
Foreign flavour
With this aim in mind, the Pune-based club, who play their home matches at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, have roped in four top-class foreign talents while retaining four of their overseas players from the last season.
Following the departure of Serbian coach Ranko Popovic, who guided the team to the semifinals last year, Pune had struck a deal with Brazilian Marcos Paqueta for the new season, but he left the club without managing a single game to join Brazilian Serie A club Botafogo.
The 62-year-old Portugal, who had taken over reins of Spanish second-division club Granada CF a few months ago after spending an underwhelming season with Delhi Dynamos FC, however, returned to India when the Pune management approached him with a request to coach the side.
The foreign players retained by Pune are Argentine striker Emiliano Alfaro, Brazilian wingers Marcelinho Leite Pereira and Diego Carlos, and Austrian midfielder Marko Stankovic. The new foreign recruits are Canadian striker Iain Hume, who is the highest goal scorer in the history of ISL, Uruguayan left-back Martin Diaz, English defender Matt Mills and Spanish midfielder Jonathan Vila.
Deadly duo
Talisman Marcelinho, who registered eight goals and seven assists for them last season, will once again be Pune’s trump card. He will team up with Alfaro, who was their highest goal scorer last season with nine goals in 18 matches, to form a deadly partnership up front.
The 30-year-old Carlos has the ability to break any defensive barrier with his swift, counter attacking moves through the flanks. Former Celta Vigo midfielder Vila and the 32-year-old Stankovic will be entrusted with the task of marshaling the midfield.
Big Indian names
Two Indian internationals, Keralite Ashique Kuruniyan, who had an impressive last season with Pune, and former East Bengal player Nikhil Poojari, one of the new Indian signings, are ready to take care of the wings. They have also brought in experienced India international Robin Singh to strengthen their attack.
Adil Khan, one of the last season’s standout performers for them, will be joined in the midfield by new signings Alwyn George, Shankar Sampingiraj, and Gabriel Fernandes. Rohit Kumar, who was drafted by the club in 2017, will also add Indian flavor to their midfield.
The local talents roped in to protect Pune’s backline are Gurtej Singh, Lalchhuanmawia, Nim Dorjee Tamang, Sarthak Golui, and Ashutosh Mehta.
Former Shillong Lajong custodian Vishal Kaith will be Pune’s first-choice goalkeeper. Kamaljit Singh, and Anuj Kumar are the reserve keepers.
