Defending champions Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) with a new look side will begin their campaign against a formidable Chennaiyin FC coached by World Cup champion Marco Materazzi in the opening game of the Hero Indian Super league, here on Saturday.
The cash-rich football extravaganza will kick off on Saturday with Abhishek Bachchan co-owned side taking on former India captain Sourav Ganguly’s team.
Incidentally, the opening ceremony will feature Bachchan junior’s wife and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai’s dance performance.
It will be a match where some of ATK’s ex-players like striker Fikru Teferra and goalkeeper Edel Bete would like to prove a point to their former team as they take on the field for the home team.
Having sorted out the grey areas that existed last year, particularly in the mid-field and defence, Chennaiyin FC has roped in some strong players from Brazil and Italy for the upcoming season. Chennaiyin had also retained the core of the squad that enabled them to top the league stages last year.
The home team’s star midfielder and ‘Golden Boot’ winner last year with nine goals, Elano Blumer of Brazil would play a significant role in determining Chennaiyin’s fortunes this year as well.
Besides replacing some players like Mikael Silvestre and Eric Djemba-Djemba with Italian midfielders Manuele Blasi and defender Allessandro Potenza, Chennayin had also recruited Brazilian mid-fielder Raphael Augusto and defenders Eder Monteiro and Mailson Alves.
The icing on the cake for Chennaiyin turned out to be the signings of Ethiopian striker Fikru and Cameroonian goalkeeper Bete, both of whom were poached from ATK.
Chennayin manager-cum-player Materazzi had made sure that in his team at least two players are fighting for each position, which will give enough depth and balance to the side.
On the other hand, ATK have signed Japanese born Indian midfielder Arata Izumi and India international Rino Anto. Besides the title holders have also roped in four domestic stars — lalchhawnkima, Augustine Fernandes, Amrinder Singh and Kunzang Bhutia.
Athletico de Kolkata have made significant changes to their team this year. The team management’s decision to release players like Fikru, last year’s captaon Garcia and Jofre Mateu, who played a key role in their title-winning run, has definitely raised a few eyebrows. But despite the lay offs, Athletico de Kolkata sports the look of a champion side.
In Helder Postiga, the youngest marque player of the tournament, the Kolkata outfit has roped in a world-class striker and the side has a lot of expectations on the Portugese World Cupper.
Other newcomers in the Kolkata side is last season’s best player award winner Iain Hume of Canada, who migrated from Kerala Blasters.
Hume, who played a vital role in taking Kerala Blasters to the final last year, is considered as perfect replacement of Fikru and is expected to provide the right support to Postiga upfront. Besides, Spanish midfielder Borja Fernandes is another player who is crucial to Athletico de Kolkata’s success, just like the way he did last year. Fernandes is the main link between the forwardline and defense and is expected to control the team’s midfield.
In Spaniard Antonio lopez Habas, Athletico de Kolkata has an enigmatic but strict and disciplinarian coach, who means business.
leeza to anchor opener
Celebrity TV anchor leeza will be reporting from the field at the opening match of Hero ISl 2015 on Star Sports. leeza will be the on ground reporter for several matches this season. She will be part of the all girls squad who will be doing the on-air coverage for the first time this season. She will also be doing the presentation ceremonies for the matches she covers.