The second season of Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2015 came to a tantalizing end a few days ago, with Chennaiyin FC lifting the trophy this time. It took an entire team’s worth of performances to lead the Super Machans to the top of the podium. However, all said and done, one cannot ignore some special performers who set the tone for the league this season, giving their rivals a reason to fight another day.These performers may not have received their due, but here’s acknowledging their laudable contributions:Sony Norde [Mumbai City FC]Mumbai City FC may not have had a successful campaign this season, but there was one shining star whose persistence highlighted their performances throughout the season. With 3 goals and 3 assists, Sony Norde did justice to his role as the point-man of Anelka’s attacking force. This could perhaps be explained better by the evident drop in the performance quality of Mumbai City when the Haitian winger had to leave on national duty.Eugeneson Lyngdoh [FC Pune City]FC Pune City were touted as one of teams to qualify for the semi-finals right from the beginning of the season. Their power-packed additions to the squad were a step towards that goal. One such addition was midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh. The AIFF Player of the Year 2015 awardee’s tally of 2 goals, 2 crucial assists and a passing accuracy of 73.13% in a total of 10 league matches brought forward his diligence and the reason behind being one of the top billings at the Hero ISL Auction earlier this year. Sanju Pradhan [North East United FC]A constant menace for opposing defenders, Sanju Pradhan’s move from Atletico de Kolkata to North East United FC did a great deal of good for head coach Cesar Farias. The Highlanders may have missed out on the semis by a whisker, but Sanju Pradhan, along with the likes of Siam Hanghal, Nico Velez and Simao Sabrosa, left no stone unturned in trying to get their team into the top half of the table. A tricky right winger, his 3 timely assists provided for the worthiest of NEUFC’s goals this season. Souvik Chakraborty [Delhi Dynamos FC]It was Delhi’s defensive strategy that played a major role in securing a berth for them in the 2015 Hero ISL semi-finals. Among the key figures who brought this strategy to life was 23-year-old Souvik Chakraborty. A defensive midfielder by nature, he was transformed into a reliable right-back by head coach Roberto Carlos – a move that paid off considerably. His absence was felt in the semi-finals as the Delhi Dynamos would bow out of the competition in his absence. Mehtab Hossain [Kerala Blasters FC]Despite his side having a disappointing campaign this season, Mehtab Hossain was ever the enforcer in the Kerala Blasters midfield. The seasoned defensive midfielder put his best foot forward, amassing 69 tackles – the most for a Blasters player – in his 13 appearances. His ability to disrupt the opposition’s play throughout the season assisted the attackers with gaining possession of the ball at all times.
