After having observed the Indian Super League from the outside for three seasons, Bengaluru FC has finally taken the plunge. The tournament may be familiar territory for some of its players but for the club, it is a new adventure.
Expectations, though, will continue to be high. In the four years of its existence, BFC has won the I-League and the Federation Cup two times each, and reached the AFC Cup final once; this is a club accustomed to success.
“From the competition view of things, the challenge is going to be massive given we’ve never played any of the teams involved, before,” says head coach Albert Roca. “I wouldn’t really say this is a step into the unknown entirely, it’s just a new jigsaw puzzle that we cannot waste any time in figuring out.”
The reshuffling of all squads ahead of this season means that none of the old franchises can truly claim to have settled units. This is where BFC has an advantage, having managed to retain or reacquire 12 players from last season’s roster. Further, some of the new arrivals — the likes of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Erik Paartalu, Dimas Delgado, and Rahul Bheke — have been part of the club’s AFC Cup campaign. “We were lucky in a way that this squad was involved in the AFC Cup which means we have started working together earlier than all other clubs in the ISL and I’m sure that will work in our favour,” says Roca.
CAPTAIN SPEAKS: 'We want to win the ISL'
BFC gave a good account of itself in the AFC Cup, losing in the semifinals last month despite a valiant performance in the second leg. That squad will be further strengthened for the ISL, with the addition of strikers Braulio Nobrega and Miku, both of whom have shown good form in pre-season friendly matches. John Johnson, who missed the club’s AFC Cup campaign for personal reasons, has rejoined the side to quash rumours of his departure.
Gurpreet was not part of BFC’s original ISL squad but is eligible to play as a replacement. Daniel Lalhlimpuia did not feature in the ISL draft either but remains a BFC player; he is among the team’s reserves too and is certain to be involved at some stage.
Sunil Chhetri, the team’s talismanic captain, continues to be a force even at 33. Udanta Singh, with his pace, will also be a handful in a front three that could include Nobrega or the Venezuelan Miku; what the team cannot do without is composure in front of goal. Paartalu, Delgado and Lenny Rodrigues will continue to be important in midfield while at the back, Johnson’s return could send the excellent Bheke to right-back and Harmanjot Khabra to the bench.
For Roca, this is a fresh challenge. In his first few months in charge, the Spaniard led the team to the final of the AFC Cup. The season after, he presided over a Federation Cup victory and a semifinal run in Asia. Participation in the next edition of the AFC Cup now rests on triumph in the ISL. Roca has to shoulder this burden of expectation; after all, he has set the bar rather high.
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