by Abhishek Gujral

The 8th edition of the National Football League has just concluded, and the season has been intriguing, to say the least. Let's have a look at how the teams performed:

1. EAST BENGAL CLUB - Well, what can one say? The men in red and gold have proved once again that they are the best side in the country, by some way. Not only did they win the NFL in a canter, they have also done the country proud by performing impressively on the continental stage. Having made it to the quarters of the AFC Cup, they are now one of the favourites for the title. East Bengal has also done the unthinkable by entering into a 3-year partnership with just relegated English Premier League side Leicester City. The immediate future is breathtakingly exciting for the Kolkata giants, as a trip to Leicester City's Walkers Stadium awaits them to take on top European sides. The key for East Bengal shall to be retain the same side as far as possible, and the take it from there. All said and done, the last season has been near flawless for the club, and all credit to the coach and the players.
Super Star: Cristiano Junior: The Brazilian goal machine has taken the country by storm by hammering 15 goals in 18 games, and has been largely responsible for the club's winning ways.
Super Flop: Alvito D'Cunha: The skilful attacking midfielder has been a shadow of his former self, and has quite frankly been very ordinary.

2. DEMPO SPORTS CLUB - I think we can easily conclude that Dempo has been the biggest surprise packet of the NFL. Nobody really expected much from them, but they made the most of a limited budget to surprise their more-fancied rivals, and clinch the runners up spot. Coach Armando Colaco must be a happy man, and deservedly so. He's got his boys playing a good passing game, which is very pleasing to the eye. Liberian international striker Sunday Seah performed reasonably up front, netting in 9 goals in 21 games. He was well supported by Indian international R.C. Prakash, who is close to winning his place back in the Indian squad after some impressive displays. However the three real stars for Dempo have been midfielder Mohammed Gaffar, defender Stanley Colaco and goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal. Nigerian Gaffar excelled as a playmaker in the central midfield role, while captain Colaco and the diminutive Mondal helped keep the goals down. It remains to be seen however, if Dempo can sustain the good work next season.
Super Star: Mohammed Gaffar: The Nigerian, all the way from the Belgian 3rd Division, has proved a key figure in the central midfield, notching up several assists.
Super Flop: Alex Ambrose: This young striker, playing in the national side not too long ago, has been somewhat disappointing. A solitary goal all season, he needs to work hard to regain his form.

3. MAHINDRA UNITED - Well, what do you know, the big spending boys from the West have finally turned potential into performance! Mahindra have done well under English coach David Booth, and look set to challenge East Bengal for the title next season. Booth has just signed a new two-year contract - this is undoubtedly very good news for the club. Also, with the Jeepmen reportedly upping their budget for the new season, they are clearly going to be the team to beat. The just concluded NFL saw some good performances by the boys - captain Khalid Jamil was effective, as was James Singh. However the star had to be Indian international midfielder Shanmugam Venkatesh. He has put in some quality performances, and looks set to overtake Alvito D'Cunha as the country's best attacking midfielder. Lanky striker Abhishek Yadav too has answered his critics in style, netting in 7 goals. Defenders Odartey Lawson and Covan Lawrence too need to be applauded for consistent performances.
Super Star: Shanmugam Venkatesh: The lad has been in sparkling form, with 6 goals to his credit.
Super Flop: Felix Aboagye: How can he be a flop with 7 goals you say? Well, Felix was arguably the most high profile signing in the NFL last season. The Ghanaian international striker comes with a rich pedigree, having played for the likes of Slavia Prague, Levski Sofia, Olympiakos Pireus, as well as Egyptian giants Zamalek Cairo. Keeping that in mind, not to mention his fat pay packet, surely more was expected from the powerful striker.

4. CHURCHILL BROTHERS SPORTS CLUB - I think we can safely conclude that Churchill Bro's has surpassed expectations and finished quite nicely. The mid season tie up with Coca Cola as their sponsors no doubt did them a world of good, and improved morale immensely. Without being unfair to the others Churchill once again had a one-man ammunition upfront - yes, Ghanaian prolific scorer Yakubu Yusif. He netted 14 goals this season, and was once again the key figure upfront. Others to make an impression were powerful defender Osumani Husseini, as well as defensive midfielder Noel Wilson. All in all, coach Marcus Pacheco should be well pleased with the effort his team has shown.
Super Star: Yakubu Yusif: Who else? The Ghanian sharpshooter has been in fine form for the 3rd season running- forget the Juniors and Barretos, this guy is one of the best strikers India has seen.
Super Flop: Mohammed Najeeb: A lot was expected of this former Indian international, after his move from ITI the preceding season. He has, however, been very disappointing and could not cement a first team place, resulting in a loan move to Fransa.

5. JAGAJIT COTTON AND TEXTILE MILLS - Sukhwinder Singh really is something of a genius! He gets his boys to perform admirably week in and week out, despite the fact that the side works on a shoestring budget. The club relies mainly on young Punjabi talent, all sharing fantastic team spirit. Of course, the club can boast of the inseparable duo - Vijayan and Ancheri. Though injury prone, both are still more than a handful at club level. The club can also boast of a fantastic young goalkeeper in Ghanian Mansuru Mohammed. Forward Harvinder Singh too has been impressive, with 7 goals to his credit. However, the signing of veteran Nigerian striker Stephen Abarowei has backfired miserably on the Millmen. He struggled right through the season, with a paltry total of 2 goals to his credit.
Super Star: Mansuru Mohammed: The young goalkeeper has been a brilliant find for JCT, and has excelled right through the season.
Super Flop: Stephen Abarowei: He is sadly well past his best, and the club would do well to get rid of him as soon as possible.

6. VASCO SPORTS CLUB - Vasco are something of an enigma. They come up with some good performances, matched with some equally forgettable ones. The club has always relied heavily on its Brazilian contingent, but sadly they too have been fairly inconsistent. Forward Marcos Pereira, out to prove a point, was impressive with 6 goals to his credit, as was Nigerian striker Amaechi Nwabunwanne Tochukwu, who scored the same number of goals. The left flank, in particular, was effective for the Goan club; with wing back Kamal Thapa and pacey winger Krishnan Ajayan in good form. Right-winger Denis Cabral and defender Selwyn Fernandes too were key figures. All said and done, the club should be reasonably satisfied with its effort, considering the limited budget at its disposal.
Super Star: Marcos Pereira: This energetic Brazilian must be feeling really good- he's proved a point to quite a few people in the country. A key figure for the club, he's been effective right through the season.
Super Flop: Levy Coelho: The promising forward managed a solitary goal all season.

7. SALGAOCAR SPORTS CLUB - An absolutely horrendous season for the club. Club President Shivanand Salgaocar must be distraught. Rated by many as outsiders for the title, Savio Madeira's boys came up with one shocking performance after another, to actually come dangerously close to relegation. The much vaunted midfield line up of Tomba Singh, Jatin Singh Bisht, Climax Lawrence and Dharamjit Singh was a big flop, with Jatin the only one to impress. Strikers Felix Ibrebru and Freddy Mascarenhas also struggled for goals, with only 10 goals between them all season. An absolutely nightmarish season - lets wait and see if the side can bounce back.
Super Star: Jatin Singh Bisht: This attacking midfielder from Nainital has come on leaps and bounds in recent times, culminating in his first cap for the country. Definitely a player to watch out for.
Super Flop: Tomba Singh: Last season's player of the year has been ordinary compared to the high standards he sets. No cause for concern though - he's going to bounce back soon, I promise you.

8. SPORTING CLUBE DE GOA - It was their first season in the NFL, and I think the club should be really happy. Coaches Clifford Chukwuma and Peter Vales have done a good job, and the players too need to be commended. The star for the club was Nigerian striker Dudu. The teenager had scored an incredible 18 goals in just 13 games in the 2nd division last season. This season he proved that the step up is not a problem for him, and he scored 13 goals in 21 games. This player is sheer quality, and one to keep an eye on. Also making a return to India after a stint in Vietnam was old warhorse Abdullatif Seriki. And boy, did SC Goa need him. The powerful forward proved he still has a lot left in him, and scored 10 goals in the campaign. Several other players also impressed, including wing-backs Mehraj din Wadoo and Akshay Das, along with midfielders Bibiano Fernandes and Jerose Oliviera. Louis Aniweta was the key figure in defence. All in all, a more than satisfactory season for the new boys.
Super Star: MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi: The teenage striker was in red-hot form with 13 goals- he was the main reason for the club's survival.
Super Flop: Kamal Suleiman: The midfielder from Sudan is just not up to par - the club needs to look for a quality foreigner to strengthen the midfield.

9. MOHUN BAGAN ATHLETIC CLUB - I really do not have to say anything - the position speaks for itself. The famous club has just seen its worst ever season, and the players must take the blame. Save Jose Ramirez Barreto, who left after playing 7 games this season, everybody has been ordinary. Defender Leonardo and goalkeeper Prasanta Dora shone in patches, but most of the others performed below par. Star striker Ashim Biswas' poor run of form did not help matters. It remains to be seen whether the club can bounce back.
Super Star: Jose Ramirez Barreto: He played only 7 games this season, but would still have to be the best player all season- scored 5 goals, and was as creative as ever.
Super Flop: Edu: This Brazilian disaster will never be forgotten by Bagan fans the world over. At a time when goals were crucial, he managed to score just 1 in 12 odd appearances.

10. TOLLYGUNGE AGRAGAMI - This unfashionable club from south Calcutta has once again done itself proud. It is quite amazing how they manage to survive in the NFL year after year. Nigerian striker Akeem was once again the key man upfront, notching up 7 goals in the bargain. The club also discovered an extremely talented striker in young Sheikh Habeeb Ali. Left back Kabijit Khotel, midfielders Sandip Das and Amit Das, as well as goalkeeper Chinmoy Banerjee too were impressive.
Super Star: Akeem Abul Alem Awoyemi: The powerful striker once again played his heart out for the club.
Super Flop: Kenneth Onu: On loan from ITI, Kenneth was expected to pile in the goals. However, he could not even win a first team place all season.

11. MOHAMMEDAN SPORTING CLUB - It's extremely sad that the club with the largest fan base in the country could not survive the humiliation of relegation. Let's face it - the NFL needs this club, and one hopes they bounce right back. As far as the season goes, the recipes for disaster were all there. As many as 3 coaches in a single season, coupled with a bunch of low quality foreigners on loan from lower divisions - there was no hope for the boys in black and white. Add to that the fact that star strikers Dipendu Biswas and Syed Rahim Nabi could manage a mere 12 goals between them.
Super Star: Madhab Das: The rookie central defender has taking everyone by surprise, putting in some solid performances. Clearly a player for the future.
Super Flop: Dipendu Biswas: The experienced striker could muster up a mere 5 goals all season.

12. INDIAN BANK - The Chennai side was always going to struggle, and frankly they had no chance of surviving. But they did manage to put up some spirited displays. Former Indian international Sabir Pasha and Sri Lankan striker Kasun Nadika Jayasuriya did manage to put up some impressive displays.
Super Star: Syed Sabir Pasha: The veteran striker was a livewire upfront, and showed plenty of spirit.
Super Flop: Everybody else !!: Absolutely impossible to pick out somebody, the entire team had pretty much an off season!