Uncapped players seek ISL route to India squad for Asian Cup
NEW DELHI: Michael Soosairaj didn’t take long to get noticed when he made his I-League debut in early 2017. The midfielder from Tamil Nadu was among a few local players to feature for Chennai City in their first season in the top flight. It was in his second season with the club, however, that Soosairaj really stamped his class in the league.
In a season where Chennai barely managed to avoid relegation, Soosairaj was a silver lining for the club. The 23-year-old was named the best midfielder of the year by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Despite his exploits in the topflight, Soosairaj, now at Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League (ISL), is yet to make it to India head coach Stephen Constantine’s side.
Soosairaj, Rahul Bheke, Sukhdev Singh and a few others have found themselves ignored despite good showing with their clubs last season.
Their anguish is something Debjit Majumder, Ashutosh Mehta, et al, can relate to, having been snubbed in the past by the English coach.
When Constantine left Soosairaj out of an Asian Cup qualifying game against Kyrgyzstan, former India midfielder Renedy Singh had voiced his frustration. “This is a game where we should have put players like Soosairaj and Sukhdev. This was the best chance for these players to come in and see how international football is. We know that we hardly play friendlies against strong teams, so this was the best chance to try,” he had said.
While Constantine has handed out international debuts to a number of players, he also seems to have placed his confidence in a core group of players in the senior side, especially with just over three months to go for the Asian Cup. It is only the second time in 35 years that India will be playing in the continental showpiece event to be played in the UAE in January.
At this stage, it may require something extraordinary from a player to convince the coach to pick him in the national squad.
That is exactly what Soosairaj and many uncapped Indian players will be looking to pull off in the opening half of ISL .
At ATK, Jayesh Rane will be hoping to rediscover his form after a disappointing season with the club last term.
Like Bheke, Bengaluru teammate Nishu Kumar too will be looking to produce a few impressive performances.
Teenagers Dheeraj Singh (Kerala Blasters) and Baoringdao Bodo (Chennaiyin FC) are unlikely to be holding first-team aspirations for India at the Asian Cup, but both the talented youngsters could make the cut if things go well in the next three months.
Dheeraj, in particular, is expected to be Kerala’s first choice custodian this term, and that will give him enough games to get into reckoning for the senior side.
However, with the likes of Vishal Kaith, Amrinder Singh, veteran Subrata Paul and others competing for back-up positions to Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Dheeraj has a tough fight on his hands.
Mandar Rao Dessai (FC Goa), Sheikh Faiaz (ATK), Jerry Mawihmingthanga (Jamshedpur FC), Brandon Fernandes (FC Goa), Kivi Zhimomi and Nikhil Kadam (NorthEast United) are among others who will be hoping for a spot in the national squad through their ISL showing.