Ranti quits Dempo for European dreams

Who would have thought that someone would better Churchill Brothers’ Odafe Onyeka Okolie, the highest goal scorer every season in the last four years? This time Okolie finished a rare second, 25 goals, behind his countryman Ranti Martins who won the golden boot award for his 30 goals.

Martins, after serving Dempo for over seven years and finishing the highest goal scorer three times, has decided to quit the club to pursue his European dreams.

Joining the Goan club at the age of 17, Martins took Indian football by storm by being the highest goal scorer in his debut tournament, the 2004 Federation Cup.

He complemented coach Armando Colaco; and the synergy was such that Dempo won the title four times, which enabled them to qualify for the AFC Cup on five occasions. And that includes the historic semi-final finish in the 2008 AFC Cup.

“It’s a very tough decision for me but I want to achieve my European dreams. I always wanted to play there and I think I can make it. Dempo has been like a family to me.

The club supported me morally and financially all these years. I will like to say a big thank you for the kindness they showed towards me all these years,” said Martins after their 2-4 loss to HAL yesterday.

Ranti feels his partnership with Roberto Mendes Silva (popularly known as Beto) has been the best in Indian football.

“I can proudly say that we were the best striking pair in Indian football. We complemented each other really well, and it was a real treat to score so many goals with him,” he said.

He had words of praise for Colaco too. “I have learned a great deal from him. He should be credited with Dempo’s style of play. I am sure he will take India to great levels,” he said.

Dempo, known to give a long stint to its players, has decided to release all its foreign imports and start fresh from next season.

With Rs 2 crore Bagan deal, Odafa shatters transfer record

Kolkata: It had been a long and fruitful association, but Mohun Bagan finally managed to lure Okolie Odafa, the prolific I-League striker from Nigeria, away from Goan football and back to the maidans of Kolkata with a Rs 2 crore deal — the highest-ever in the history of Indian football.

And as the club unveiled their prize catch for the next season, they would be hoping the Nigerian manages to do for them what he managed for the Churchill Brothers all these years — taking them and then keeping them in top-flight I-League, making Churchill one of the strongest teams on the domestic circuit, all due to his prolific goal-scoring spree.


Odafa, the league's highest goal-scorer for three consecutive editions — from 2007-08 to 2009-10 — and on the verge of making it four before Ranty Martins' seven-goal burst against Air India pushed him to second spot, admitted it was tough for him to leave Churchill, a club that nurtured and stood by him when he was discarded by the footballing fraternity in Kolkata following a failed season for Mohammedan Sporting back in 2001-02. The only clincher seems to be the money, which sources said would be broken into a Rs 1.6 crore salary and the rest in perks.


"It's a great day in the club's history," Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra said during Wednesday's unveiling.
The Kolkata giants are desperate to improve their showing in the I-League, with the club management under pressure to make changes after a trophy-less season. Baganhad tried to get Odafa last year as well but cudn't match Churchill’s offer — who raised the stakes with a Rs 1.10 crore contract.


Many promises
Odafa, who would be paired up with Jose Barreto upfront, said that he was looking forward to forge a great partnership with the veteran. “I am honoured to play alongside Barretto. God willing, we would help the team win many trophies next season,” he said.


His inclusion might also prompt Team India's No. 1 striker Sunil Chhetri to return to his old club. “Odafa is a fantastic player and anybody would love to play in a strike force that has his quality,” Chhetri said.
The deal, however, has evoked a mixed response. While newly-crowned I-League champions Salgaocar's coach Karim Bencherifa believes the move will do the side good, former India captain and coach PK Banerjee slammed the sum being paid to Odafa. "Bagan have always spent big to rope in top players. Odafa is a great goal-getter, while Bagan is a huge club. They will profit from this association," Bencherifa said.


Critics sceptical
But Banerjee remains sceptical, saying no one is worth that much in Indian football.
"That money would have been better spent in nurturing a few local talents. The foreigners playing here are not even third grade by world standards. Spending Rs 2 crore for one of them is absolutely ridiculous," Banerjee said

Mohun Bagan net 'big-fish' Odafe

KOLKATA: Despite the concluding matches of the I-League spilling over, June 1 marks the beginning of a new season in Indian football, and on the very first day, Mohun Bagan netted a big 'fish'.

Efforts of Bagan officials bore fruit on Wednesday when they roped in the most prolific striker in Indian club football - Odafe Okolie. In what is undoubtedly the biggest transfer move of the season, the Nigerian signed on the dotted lines for the green and maroons on a one-year contract for an undisclosed amount. Sources indicated that it could be the most expensive buy in Indian football.

After a barren season, during which Bagan failed to win a single trophy, getting Odafa on board is a clever ploy by the officials to placate club's supporters. The 25-year-old goalpoacher par excellence certainly got a taste of the adulation when he showed up at the club tent where he was presented to the media. Bagan fans went berserk as Odafa arrived amid tight security. He will also be a touch-wary of the huge responsibility of guiding the club's fortunes in the new season.

Like a quintessential pro, Odafa spoke freely and frankly. "Thank you everyone. You all love me a lot. This year I am joining Mohun Bagan and I would like to tell you, we will win many trophies," he said, sending thousands of supporters into a delirium.

For the former Churchill Brothers player returns to the city after eight years, having played for theMohammedan Sporting Club in 2003-04 before being unceremoniously dumped. Odafa was not prepared to dwell on his bitter experience in Kolkata on an occasion like this, but made it clear that he had came to Bagan looking for a new challenge. "Churchill Brothers treated me like a son and kept me really happy. But, I decided to move on as we all need to look for new challenges. I also hope that Bagan officials will also keep me happy."

Odafa then switched to football matters. Asked whether he was looking forward to playing alongside Jose Ramirez Barreto, the Nigerian said. "Barreto has a lot of experience and his presence will give me a lot of confidence.

But, I want to state that I alone cannot do everything and need support from my teammates to score goals. Bagan officials have promised me that they will be signing up good players," said Odafa, who was presented with a green and maroons jersey which had no number on it. Asked whether he would prefer No 10, Odafa said in a lighter vein, "As Barreto wears No 10, I might wear No 101."

Bagan's general secretary Anjan Mitra thanked former Bagan striker Chima Okorie for helping them to get Odafa on board. "Odafa's induction is a big thing for Bagan. We wanted him, and we are grateful to Chima for helping us in bringing him into the fold," he said.