The 2015 Hero Indian Super League saw many players with star billing like Stiven Mendoza, Iain Hume, Sunil Chhetri, Apoula Edel – but to name a few – grabbing the headlines. But there were also quite a few players who came out of anonymity in their debut season after putting on view one impressive performance after another. Let us take a gander at these players who acquired star status over the course of two and a half months. Sameehg Doutie (Atlético de Kolkata)26-year-old Sameehg Doutie sure did chip in with his three goals but it was the South African winger’s six assists that made him the apple of Kolkata’s eye this season. Pairing up with the likes of Iain Hume and Arata Izumi up front, Doutie’s yeoman service mid-way through the league stage greatly helped Atlético de Kolkata revive their campaign following three straight losses and reach the semis.Antonio German (Kerala Blasters FC)English striker Sanchez Watt’s mid-season injury had Kerala Blasters FC in a big spot of bother. Enter 23-year-old Antonio German who amped up his game to such a level that Watt’s disappointment was soon forgotten. In the nine matches German featured, he scored six goals. Besides, he also provided three assists. He was definitely the most important player for the Blasters in the second half of the league stage. Chris Dagnall also scored six goals for Kerala (to go with two assists) but he played four more matches than German.Amrinder Singh (Atlético de Kolkata) The Punjab-born goalkeeper was quite a revelation for the defending champions. After Apoula Edel moved to Chennaiyin FC ahead of the season, Amrinder had really big shoes to fill. Exceeding all expectations, the 22-year-old made 40 saves in all and constantly kept the opposition under the pump. The fact that ATK were the one of the best defences this season was largely due to Amrinder’s gutsy performance in goal.Thongkhosiem Haokip (FC Goa)22-year-old Thongkhosiem Haokip left a great impression in the limited opportunities he got. The forward scored four goals in all in six matches, including a hat-trick. He, along with Dudu, led the Gaurs’ 7-0 rout of Mumbai City FC, the biggest win in the history of the league. Every time he was required by Zico to replace an injured player or a player not up to the mark, Haokip stepped up and did the job without any fuss.Anas Edathodika (Delhi Dynamos FC)Marquee player-cum-coach Roberto Carlos’ defence-based tactics played a big role in Delhi Dynamos FC making their first semi-final appearance. One key player to find himself in Carlos’ scheme of things was Anas Edathodika. With 163 clearances and one goal to his name, the 28-year-old defender showed poise not only at the heart of the defence but also on the attacking front.Raphael Augusto (Chennaiyin FC)It was Raphael Augusto who broke the rival teams’ play; who stood tall in central midfield for the Super Machans! Without an iota of doubt, the 24-year-old was the proverbial anchor for Marco Materazzi’s league-winning side this season. With 66 tackles and a passing accuracy of 82.93%, Augusto was one of the reasons behind Chennai’s resurgence in the second half of the league stage. He was sorely missed by fans in the semis and the final after picking up an injury.Andre Bikey (NorthEast United FC)Coming in for an injured Miguel Garcia early in the season, Cameroon-born Andre Bikey was quick to earn the praise of fans and foes alike. The 30-year-old defender proved to be quite the ‘lucky charm’ for the Highlanders – debuting in NorthEast United’s first win of the season and also helping them become a force to reckon with as the season progressed. He made 52 clearances, besides a passing accuracy of 84.93%, in the nine matches he played. Not to mention the goal he scored against FC Pune City in what proved to be the Highlanders’ last game of the season.
