We have made an analysis of performance of junior players in Kolkata league last year.
This has been done after a bengal daily yesterday reported that Mohun Bagan won the Kolkata league mainly because of junior players and that coach afterwards did not use their service. We do not agree with this report and has tried to put out some points.

APPEARANCE OF PLAYERS IN KOLKATA LEAGUE:

[Starting XI + sub (goals)]

01 Sangram MUKHERJEE – 14 + 0 (0)
02 Naveen KUMAR – 1 + 4 (0)
03 Shivananju MANJU – 4 + 1 (1)
04 Dipak MONDAL – 4 + 1 (0)
05 Habibur R MONDAL – 12 + 1 (2)
06 S Henry GANGTE – 0 + 1 (0)
07 Lalkamal BHOWMIK – 9 + 2 (0)
08 Tapan MAITI – 1 + 3 (0)
09 PC LALAWMPUIA – 13 + 0 (8)
10 Jose BARRETO – 12 + 1 (7)
11 Ishfaq AHMED – 3 + 2 (0)
12 Branco CARDOZO – 0 + 5 (1)
13 Raju EKKA
14 Peter ODAFE – 12 + 0 (1)
15 Bhaichung BHUTIA – 0 + 2 (0)
16 L James SINGH – 7 + 2 (0)
17 Rahul KUMAR – 2 + 2 (0)
18 Karan ATWAL
19 Sailo MALSAWMTLUANGA – 11 + 1 (4)
20 Rakesh MASIH – 8 + 1 (0)
21 Chirodeep CHATTERJEE
22 Kartik KISKU -2 + 3 (0)
23 LALRAMLUAHA – 8 + 4 (0)
24 Rino ANTO – 2 + 2 (0)
25 S James SINGH – 9 + 1 (0)
27 Nallapan MOHANRAJ – 7 + 0 (0)
29 Joseph ANANDAVASAN – 9 + 0 (0)
31 Shilton PAUL
33 Suman BOSE – 2 + 1 (0)
35 Sanjoy BORO – 2 + 1 (0)

So, amongst the "juniors" who contributed significantly in the local league, Lalawmpuia (with 8 goals in 13 games) leads the pack. Lalram and S James Singh had alsp played a major part in the Kolkata league, at least if one goes my number of appearances.

Now to the I-League. Lalawm started 3 of the 22 games, and made 9 brief appearances as sub, and scored 3 goals. Not bad. However, after his off-the-field antics, which I shall not mention here, I don’t think he has much too complain about.

Lalram made 8 appearances in the I League (2 + 6), where his performances (or lack of those) do not leave much scope for complaint from his side! Perhaps only S James Singh has some genuine grounds for complaint, having been given just 1 start and 2 more games as sub in the I League – though arguably, the advent of Marcos (in the I League – do remember that only 2 "foreigners played per game in the KFL) might have made mid-field places more difficult to get for the juniors.

I’m leaving Lalkamal out of this discussion – he’s been given enough opportunities, in my humble opinion. As for Shilton, well, only 1 goalkeeper can play in a match, and as Sangram was performing rather well, he, too should not have too many complaints. (If one looks at the EPL, for instance – several international goalkeepers have to be satisfied with a handful of games each season owing to the presence of better keepers!)

So, I find that in general, the youngsters do not really have much grounds for grouse. (And in that perspective, the report in a Bengali daily is most astonishing! ) Having said that, I must also state that I find this (hankering for places in the 1st eleven) a healthy sign – it just shows that each of these juniors have an appetite for the game. Such players should be persuaded to stay, if possible.

REPORT: RAJAT SUBHRA BANERJEE