Talent galore in State

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Though the I-League season has been one of the worst for Kerala — the home team getting relegated — some Kerala players have showed that there is no dearth of talent in the state.

The winners and relegated teams of the league have already been announced and most teams have a match to be played to complete the season.

As it is a known fact that the rewards and benefits of the next season for each player will be based on the performances and commitment they showed in this edition of the I-League and several Kerala players are likely to grab good opportunities.

However, in the champion team, Dempo SC, no Kerala player has found any place in the star-studded line-up.

Their only Kerala player Anilkumar, was loaned to Chirag United Kerala, where he was not able to play most of the matches due to injury.

But the picture is very different when one looks at the performances of Kerala players from Pune FC. The team, which is now in the second position, has three Keralites and everyone has performed consistently.

Their defenders Anas Edathodika from Malappuram and Othallo Tabia, a player from Thiruvananthapuram, have performed consistently.

Kozhikode boy Shahinlal Meloly, who played a handful of matches due to the injury of Pune FC first goalie Subrata Pal, was able to grab the attention of Blackburn manager Steave Kean in a friendly. In the I-League matches he played, he proved that he was a reliable custodian.

Though relegated from the league, Chirag United Kerala striker Vineeth has played consistently scoring six goals from the 20 games he played.

He will be one of the strikers from the team who will not go jobless if the team is disbanded.

Indian Under-23 striker C.S. Sabeeth has also risen to glory in the last rounds of the I-League. He has scored nine goals from 19 matches.

Besides, these players, Bineesh Balan and MP Sakeer of Churchill Brothers and Justin Stephen of Prayag United have also played consistently for their teams.