Newlook side seeks to foster talent, win title
NEWDELHI: Delhi Dynamos are the only team based out of northern India in the Indian Super League (ISL). Over the first three editions, many talented players from India and abroad have turned out in their white and orange, but success has eluded the side, which has not even reached the finals.
Delhi Dynamos’ best performance came in 2016, when they reached the semi-finals after finishing third in the group stage. Managed by former Juventus and Barcelona defender Gianluca Zambrotta, they lost in the semis to runners-up Kerala Blasters.
There has been a change in approach this time. In the past Delhi have relied on stars like Florent Malouda, Robin Singh, Richard Gadze and Marcelinho who were able to carry the team.
Ahead of the player draft this year, Delhi Dynamos sprang a surprise by choosing not to retain a single player. However, the new-look side comprises promising Indian talent as well as a new manager in Miguel Angel Portugal, a Spanish coach best known for his emphasis on developing young players. The speedy right-back has played for Indian football heavyweight Mohun Bagan where he won the I-league in 2015. He also won the ISL with ATK in 2016 and has been a mainstay of the India national football team for the past two years. Solid in defence and good going forward, this versatile defender was the fourth-most expensive defender in the player draft held this year for a reason. The 23-year old goalkeeper has previously played for Mumbai City FC in the ISL, but his biggest professional success came when he was a part of the FC Aizawl side that won the I-league in 2017. He’s a talented young shot stopper and his proficiency between the sticks will come in handy for the Delhi
Dynamos.
L Chhangte (Age 20), Jeroen Lumu (22) Netherlands, Kalu Uche (34) Nigeria, Guyon Fernandes (31) Netherlands
Romeo Fernandes (25), David Nghaite (27), Seityasen Singh (25), Simranjeet Singh (25), Vinit Rai (19), Paulinho Dias (29) Brazil, Matias Mirabaje (28) Uruguay
Rowilson Rodrigues (30), Pritam Kotal (24), Sena Ralte (29), Sajid Dhot (19), Munmun Lugun (24), Pratik Chowdhary (27), Jayananda Singh (18),
Edu Moya (36) Spain, Gabriel Cichero (33) Venezuela
Albino Gomes (23), Arnab Das Sharma (29), Sukhadev Patil (19)
61, the club’s new manager, has coached Real Madrid’s C and B sides and has been at the helm of many Spanish clubs, including Cordoba, Racing Santander and Real Valladolid. He has also managed clubs in Bolivia (Club Bolivar), Brazil (Clube Atletico Paranaense) and Algeria (Club Sportif Constantinois).
Portugal specialises in developing youth players, which he This pacy winger played the previous three editions of the ISL for FC Goa, albeit on loan from I-league side Dempo. His impressive performances in ISL’S first season earned him a loan move to Clube Atletico Paranaense, where he became the first Indian to play for a South American side at senior level. Delhi Dynamos will look to this 25-year-old to provide them some speed and thrust out wide.
MILES TO GO Delhi Dynamos, bidding to win their first crown, go into ISL with a completely changed side but an experienced coach at helm Semi-finals, 3rd in group stage REAL EXPERIENCE TO DEVELOP YOUNGSTERS
made very clear during his official unveiling. “I intend using my experience from Real Madrid to teach young Indian players,” he said during his first press conference as manager. His expertise at developing talent feeds into the longterm strategy of the Dynamos, who are looking to eventually have a number of local Delhi boys representing the club. “We want Delhi fans to cheer for young players from the city instead of foreign stars who come for a year and then leave,” Dynamos CEO Ashish Shah said during Portugal’s unveiling.
It is unclear how Portugal will blood young talent while simultaneously looking to win the club’s maiden title this year. But given how the Dynamos squad looks, it is clear the new manager’s football ideology has the total backing of the owners.