Bengaluru: Interim coach Naushad Moosa was succeeded by German coach Marco Pezzaiuoli in Bengaluru FC. The boss who had coached the likes of Toni Kross, looking after the players through the U-16, U-17 U-19 ranks of Germany made some talented foreign signings in order to bolster the squad along with retaining some.
As the Blues are set to begin the season from November 20, against North-East United FC, let’s take a look at the foreign players plying their trade under Indian legend and skipper Sunil Chettri’s leadership.
1. Cleiton Silva- Cleiton Silva will continue to impress the Indian football fans for the Blues this season as well. Joining Bengaluru FC last season, Silva has played 18 matches for the side registering over 34 shots on target, however he scored seven goals for the Blues, bagging 4 assists.
2. Prince Ibara– Apart from possessing excellent heading abilities,Ibara, the Congolese centre forward’s best trait is that the 25-year-old can shoot the ball home from crosses from both the flanks. Gaining experience from playing in different colours like LB Chateauroux, Beerschot V.A. and Al-Wakrah SC, Ibara has become lethal in the 18 yard area. His partnership with Chettri will be an delightful affair to watch as the Blues will anticipate to score more that 26 goals that they scored last time, this season.
3. Alan Henrique Costa- The 30 year old Brazilian defender is set to form the heart of the Blues’ defense. Playing his way through first tier and second tier Brazilian clubs Costa has enhanced his defensive abilities that includes clean tackling. After from being absolutely unshaken against opposition attacks, Costa is quite good in scoring set pieces. Overall, Costa will provide a great threat to the opposition as he is set to be one of Pezzaiuoli’s key players of the season .
4.Iman Bisafa- Making his debut for the first time out Iran , in India, Bisafa is set to be the heart of the Blues philosophy. Essentially a proper central defensive midfielder, Bisafa plying his trade through clubs like Machine Sazi, Pars Jam, Aluminium Arak and Malavan, has mastered the qualities of gaining the possession as well as clean tackling. His ability of winning midfield battles would prove to be of great advantage for the Banglore side.
5. Bruno Ramires- As good as Bisafa is, versatile Brazilian midfielder Bruno Ramires will give quite a good run for the position in the starting line up. With an experience of making over 48 appearances in Portuguese top tier, Ramires is also accustomed to play as a central defensive midfielder with good blocking abilities. Apart from being a deep lying play maker, Ramires can also score goals and is most likely to be started by the gaffer.
6. Yrondu Musavu-King- The 29 year old Gabonese central defender had gained immense experience and defensive awareness from plying his trade through clubs like Toulouse, Udinese Calcio, FC Lorient and Granada CF in his career. His anticipating abilities are quite sharp and he can clear the long balls coming their way from opposition in a manner that decreases the threat of conceding. However, he will face a huge competition from Alan Costa in making his place in the starting XI of the Blues.
Finishing at the seventh last season above Kerala Blasters with 22 points, the club failed to reach the play offs for the first time since inclusion in the Indian Super League. The Blues would look forward to reclaim their glory in the league.
