By Akhil Rawat
NEW DELHI: Defending the title will be on the agenda for 2020-21 Hero I-League champions Gokulam Kerala FC as they return to Kolkata for a second year running. Vincenzo Alberto Annese’s side have already kicked-off their 2021-22 Hero I-League season with a 1-0 win over title rivals Churchill Brothers on Matchday 1. It’s going to be a long season for the Malabarians as they are also scheduled to play in the AFC Cup group stages in May.
Strong squad depth is of utmost importance in a historic year like this and Gokulam have dug deep into the transfer market to assemble a quality team. As far as foreign options are concerned, apart from Afghan international Sharif Mukhammad, none of the other title-winning foreigners have been retained. Lots of big Indian names like Deepak Devrani, Sebastian Thangmuansang, Ubaid CK and Vincy Barretto have departed the Kozhikode-based outfit.
Here’s a list of some important names the champions of the Hero I-League have signed for the upcoming season:
Luka Majcen: The Slovenian netted 11 goals in just 15 matches for title challengers Churchill Brothers last season, finishing as the joint-highest foreign scorer alongside Gokulam’s Denny Antwi. Majcen was signed in the winter transfer window by the Malabarians after featuring for FC Bengaluru United, where he top-scored with 13 goals as FCBU were crowned champions of the Bangalore Super Division. A former Slovenian youth international, Majcen is already a proven goalscorer in India, which is exactly why coach Annese is fond of him and expects him to lead the Gokulam frontline.
Aminou Bouba: The centre-back arrives in Gokulam as a replacement for outgoing captain Mohamed Awal. Bouba has plied his trade with big clubs like Espérance ST, Al-Ettifaq and CS Constantine in Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Algeria respectively. A towering presence in the air, he is also capable of controlling possession and delivering accurate long balls. The Cameroonian international could be one of the most impactful defenders in the Hero I-League this season.
Rakshit Dagar: With the departure of regular goalkeeper Ubaid CK, Gokulam Kerala quickly moved for Rakshit Dagar, who kept five clean sheets for Sudeva Delhi last season. The 29-year-old custodian is a seasoned campaigner in the Hero I-League with prior experience of playing for East Bengal, DSK Shivajians and Minerva Punjab, lifting the trophy with the latter in 2017/18.
David Simbo: 32-year-old defender Simbo is the latest foreign recruit in the winter transfer window for Gokulam Kerala. The 190 cm tall Sierra Leonean is a highly-rated addition thanks to his ability to play in both midfield and defence. Simbo has featured 20 times for the Sierra Leone national team, debuting against Egypt back in 2010. He has also played club football in a large variety of countries such as Norway, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Belarus, Turkey and Iraq.
Pawan Kumar: A strong, sturdy and tall centre-back, Pawan brings plenty of defensive solidity to the team. The Delhi-born defender was a part of Real Kashmir last season and has previously played for Goan sides Churchill Brothers and Salgaocar. The 26-year-old has good passing accuracy and is always a danger from set-pieces.
Jourdain Fletcher: Gokulam Kerala reinforced their attack with the signing of Jamaican international Fletcher. The 24-year-old adds much-needed depth to the champion side’s offence. Fletcher last played for Jamaican side Mount Pleasant, scoring six goals in 13 matches last season. The striker made his senior debut for Jamaica in a friendly against the USA in 2017.
