2016–17 I-League

The 2016–17 I-League was the 10th season of the I-League, the top Indian professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 2007. The season began on 7 January 2017 and concluded on 30 April 2017.[1]

I-League
Season2016–17
ChampionsAizawl
RelegatedMumbai
AFC Champions LeagueAizawl
AFC CupBengaluru FC
Matches played90
Goals scored225 (2.5 per match)
Top goalscorerAser Pierrick Dipanda (11 goals)
Best goalkeeperDebjit Majumder
Albino Gomes
(8 clean sheets)
Biggest home winBengaluru 7–0 DSK Shivajians
(22 April 2017)
Biggest away winMinerva Punjab 0–5 East Bengal
(29 January 2017)
Highest scoringChurchill Brothers 4–5 Minerva Punjab
(19 February 2017)
Longest winning runEast Bengal
(6 games)
Longest unbeaten runEast Bengal
Mohun Bagan
(9 games)
Longest winless runMumbai
(16 games)
Longest losing runMumbai
(6 games)
Highest attendance29,067
East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan
(12 February 2017)
Lowest attendance300
Minerva Punjab vs Chennai City
(8 April 2017)
Total attendance470,941
Average attendance5,233
All statistics correct as of 30 April 2017.

Aizawl won their first title on the final day after securing a draw against Shillong Lajong on 30 April 2017. Defending champions Bengaluru FC finished in the fourth place. Dempo had entered the league after being promoted from the I-League 2nd Division but withdrew from the league along with Salgaocar and Sporting Goa. Aizawl were reinstated into the league after being relegated while Churchill Brothers, Chennai City, and Minerva Punjab were granted direct-entry into the I-League.

Teams

Locations of the 2016–17 I-League teams

Ten teams are competing in the league. The majority of the teams from the previous season as well as recently promoted Dempo were originally supposed to compete this season. Dempo were promoted to the I-League on 30 May 2016, defeating Minerva Academy 3–1.[2] Aizawl were relegated from the I-League the previous season, despite finishing above last place DSK Shivajians who were exempt from relegation. However, on 27 September 2016, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced that Aizawl would be reinstated into the I-League for the 2016–17 season.[3]

Throughout the summer of 2016, the three Goan I-League clubs – Dempo, Salgaocar, and Sporting Goa – had been indecisive over their participation in the league. On 24 June 2016 it was first announced that Salgaocar and Sporting Goa would withdraw from the I-League following their displeasure over the proposed roadmap for Indian football for the 2017–18 season, with Dempo also threatening to do so next.[4] However, in September 2015 it was revealed that despite withdrawing Sporting Goa and Dempo still submitted their AFC Licensing documents needed for I-League play.[5] It was then revealed on 10 November that both Sporting Goa and Dempo were given national licenses for the I-League.[6] Despite this though, however, on 22 November 2016 it was officially announced by Sporting Goa that they would withdraw from the I-League for good.[7]

As well as dealing with the Goan clubs potential exit from the league, the AIFF have also worked on providing direct-entry for certain clubs into the I-League for this season. On 26 October 2016 it was revealed that both Minerva Academy and FC Bardez had submitted documents for direct-entry into the I-League.[8] However, on 23 November, it was announced that the AIFF would be issuing new tenders for a direct-entry side in the league after none of the three sides which applied fulfilled the financial criteria.[9]

On 8 December 2016, after Dempo confirmed their exit from the league, the AIFF reinstated Churchill Brothers into the I-League.[10] Finally, on 11 December 2016, the AIFF granted direct-entry to both Chennai City and Minerva Punjab to bring the number of teams in the league to ten.[11]

Stadiums and locations
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Aizawl Aizawl, Mizoram Rajiv Gandhi Stadium 5,000[12]
Bengaluru FC Bangalore, Karnataka Sree Kanteerava Stadium 24,000[13]
Chennai City Chennai, Tamil Nadu Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 40,000[14]
Churchill Brothers Vasco da Gama, Goa Tilak Maidan Stadium 12,000[15]
DSK Shivajians Pune, Maharashtra Balewadi Stadium 12,000[16]
East Bengal Kolkata, West Bengal Barasat Stadium 22,000[17]
Minerva Punjab Ludhiana, Punjab Guru Nanak Stadium 15,000[18]
Mohun Bagan Kolkata, West Bengal Rabindra Sarobar Stadium 22,000[19]
Mumbai Mumbai, Maharashtra Cooperage Ground 5,000[20]
Shillong Lajong Shillong, Meghalaya Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 30,000[21]

Personnel and kits
Team Head coach Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Aizawl Khalid Jamil Vamos NE Consultancy Services
Bengaluru FC Albert Roca Puma JSW Group
Chennai City V Soundararajan Classic Polo Baako
Churchill Brothers Derrick Pereira Strikke Sports Churchill Group
DSK Shivajians Dave Rogers Nivia DSK Group
East Bengal Mridul Banerjee Shiv Naresh Kingfisher
Minerva Punjab Surinder Singh T10 Sports Indian Armed Forces
Mohun Bagan Sanjoy Sen Shiv Naresh None
Mumbai Oscar Bruzon Nivia Playwin
Shillong Lajong Thangboi Singto Adidas Gionee

Head coaching changes
Team Outgoing head coach Manner of
departure		 Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming head coach Date of
appointment
Bengaluru FC Ashley Westwood End of Contract 1 June 2016[22] Pre-season Albert Roca 6 July 2016[23]
DSK Shivajians Derrick Pereira Resigned 8 June 2016[24] Dave Rogers 14 June 2016[25]
Mumbai Khalid Jamil Resigned 15 June 2016[26] Santosh Kashyap 22 June 2016[27]
Aizawl K. Malsawmkima Assistant coach 20 December 2016[28] Khalid Jamil 20 December 2016[28]
Chennai City Robin Charles Raja Sacked 7 February 2017[29] 10th V Soundararajan 9 February 2017[30]
Churchill Brothers Alfred Fernandes Assistant Coach 17 February 2017[31] Derrick Pereira 17 February 2017[31]
Mumbai Santosh Kashyap Sacked 18 March 2017[32] Óscar Bruzón 19 March 2017[33]
East Bengal Trevor Morgan Resigned 17 April 2017[34] 3rd Mridul Banerjee 18 April 2017[35]

Foreign players

A team can register up to four foreign players, of which one should compulsorily be a national of an Asian Country.[36]

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Asian Player
Aizawl Kamo Stephane Bayi Alfred Jaryan Kingsley Obumneme Mahmoud Amnah
Bengaluru FC John Johnson Marjan Jugović Juanan Cameron Watson
Chennai City Charles Marcos Thank Echezona Anyichie
Churchill Brothers Ansumana Kromah Anthony Wolfe Bektur Talgat Uulu
DSK Shivajians Saša Kolunija Shane McFaul Juan Quero Kim Song-yong
East Bengal Wedson Anselme Willis Plaza Ivan Bukenya Chris Payne
Minerva Punjab Victor Amobi Loveday Enyinnaya Kareem Omolaja Sang-Min Kim
Mohun Bagan Eduardo Ferreira Sony Norde Darryl Duffy Katsumi Yusa
Mumbai Densill Theobald Djelaludin Sharityar
Shillong Lajong Fábio Pena Aser Pierrick Dipanda Dan Ignat Yuta Kinowaki

    Results

    League table
    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
    1 Aizawl (C) 18 11 4 3 24 14 +10 37 Qualification to Champions League qualifier
    2 Mohun Bagan 18 10 6 2 27 12 +15 36
    3 East Bengal 18 10 3 5 33 15 +18 33
    4 Bengaluru FC 18 8 6 4 30 15 +15 30 Qualification to AFC Cup qualifying play-off[lower-alpha 1]
    5 Shillong Lajong 18 7 5 6 24 23 +1 26
    6 Churchill Brothers 18 5 5 8 24 26 −2 20
    7 DSK Shivajians 18 4 6 8 22 30 −8 18
    8 Chennai City 18 4 5 9 15 29 −14 17
    9 Minerva Punjab 18 2 7 9 17 33 −16 13[lower-alpha 2]
    10 Mumbai (R) 18 2 7 9 9 28 −19 13[lower-alpha 2] Relegation to I-League 2nd Division
    Source: IndiaFooty.com
    Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots
    (C) Champion; (R) Relegated.
    Notes:
    1. Bengaluru FC qualified for the 2018 AFC Cup by winning the 2016–17 Federation Cup.
    2. Minerva Punjab ahead of Mumbai on head-to-head record; Minerva Punjab–Mumbai 2–1, Mumbai–Minerva Punjab 0–0

    Results table
    Home \ Away AFC BFC CCFC CB DSK EB MP MB MFC SLFC
    Aizawl 1–1 1–0 3–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 2–1
    Bengaluru FC 1–0 2–0 3–0 7–0 1–3 1–1 0–0 3–0 3–0
    Chennai City 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 0–0 1–2 2–1 1–4
    Churchill Brothers 1–3 2–1 6–1 3–0 0–2 4–5 2–1 1–2 0–0
    DSK Shivajians 0–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–2 4–4 0–0 5–0 2–3
    East Bengal 1–1 2–1 3–0 1–2 0–1 3–1 0–0 2–0 1–1
    Minerva Punjab 2–2 0–1 0–2 0–0 0–0 0–5 0–1 2–1 1–2
    Mohun Bagan 3–2 3–0 2–1 1–0 3–1 2–1 4–0 2–2 2–0
    Mumbai 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–4 0–0 0–0 1–1
    Shillong Lajong 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–0 1–2 1–2 2–1 1–1 3–1
    Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: I-League
    Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

    Season statistics
    As of 30 April 2017[37]

    Hat-tricks
    Main article: List of I-League hat-tricks
    PlayerForAgainstResultDateRef
    C.K. VineethBengaluru FCMumbai3–018 January 2017[38]
    Wedson AnselmeEast BengalMinerva Punjab5–029 January 2017[39]
    Bektur Talgat Uulu 4Churchill Brothers Chennai City6–122 April 2017[40]

    4 Player scored 4 goals.

    Fair play

    Churchill Brothers led the fair play table at the end of the season.[41]

    Rank Team Total Points
    1
    		 Churchill Brothers
    8.07
    2
    		 Chennai City
    7.91
    3
    		 Shillong Lajong
    7.79
    4
    		 Bengaluru FC
    7.76
    DSK Shivajians
    7.76
    6
    		 Aizawl
    7.74
    7
    		 East Bengal
    7.73
    8
    		 Minerva Punjab
    7.69
    9
    		 Mumbai
    7.63
    10
    		 Mohun Bagan
    7.49

    Attendance
    As of 30 April 2017

    Average home attendances
    Team GP Cumulative High Low Mean
    East Bengal988,53729,0672,3519,726
    Bengaluru FC978,77112,6425,3118,752
    Mohun Bagan971,19923,8593,2567,911
    Aizawl962,48811,0004,7256,943
    Shillong Lajong956,20023,7003,2006,244
    Chennai City926,5385,4341,1232,949
    Minerva Punjab924,8145,1693002,757
    Churchill Brothers923,0443,9271,7362,560
    Mumbai919,3193,6248382,145
    DSK Shivajians910,0511,5476481,118
    Total90470,94129,0673005,233

    Highest attendances
    Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Date Stadium
    1East Bengal0–0Mohun Bagan29,06712 February 2017 (2017-02-12)Kanchenjunga Stadium
    2Mohun Bagan2–1East Bengal23,8599 April 2017 (2017-04-09)Kanchenjunga Stadium
    3Shillong Lajong1–1Aizawl23,70030 April 2017 (2017-04-30)JLN Stadium
    4East Bengal1–1Aizawl12,7007 January 2017 (2017-01-07)Barasat Stadium
    5Bengaluru FC1–3East Bengal12,64225 February 2017 (2017-02-25)Sree Kanteerava Stadium

    Awards

    Hero of the Match
    Round Hero of the Matches
    1 Kingsley Obumneme Udanta Singh Thoi Singh Kingsley Fernandes Karanjit Singh
    2 Mahmoud Amnah Darryl Duffy Willis Plaza Karanjit Singh Adil Khan
    3 Mahmoud Amnah Jeje Lalpekhlua Milan Singh Lalrindika Ralte C.K. Vineeth
    4 Rupert Nongrum Jerry Mawihmingthanga Marcos Thank Ivan Bukenya Jayesh Rane
    5 Saša Kolunija Chesterpoul Lyngdoh Aser Pierrick Dipanda Marcos Thank Wedson Anselme
    6 Aser Pierrick Dipanda Alfred Jaryan Rowilson Rodrigues Willis Plaza Katsumi Yusa
    7 Anirudh Thapa Prabir Das Vishal Kaith Wedson Anselme Holicharan Narzary
    8 Kingsley Obumneme Charles Shane McFaul Sunil Chhetri Rehenesh TP
    9 Brandon Fernandes Albino Gomes Laxmikant Kattimani Vishal Kaith Vinit Rai
    10 Anthony Wolfe Aser Pierrick Dipanda Densil Theobald Balwant Singh Laldanmawia Ralte
    11 Brandon Vanlalremdika Robin Singh Anthony Wolfe Arnab Das Sharma Vishal Kaith
    12 Aser Pierrick Dipanda Chesterpoul Lyngdoh Kamo Stephane Bayi Lenny Rodrigues Nanda Kumar
    13 Nim Dorjee Tamang Laldanmawia Ralte Naveen Kumar Daniel Lalhlimpuia Sony Norde
    14 Kareem Omolaja Holicharan Narzary Arindam Bhattacharya Vishal Kaith Karanjit Singh
    15 Michael Soosairaj Milan Singh Laxmikant Kattimani Jayesh Rane Sony Norde
    16 Cameron Watson Kamo Stephane Bayi Krishna Pandit Jerry Mawihmingthanga Karanjit Singh
    17 Zohmingliana Ralte Bektur Talgat Uulu Sunil Chhetri Rowllin Borges Isaac Vanlalsawma
    18 Mandar Rao Desai Bikash Jairu Kim Song-yong Kamo Stephane Bayi Sony Norde

      Season awards

      Hero I-League 2016–17 awards were voted by coaches and captains of the participating teams.[42]

      Award Recipient
      Hero of the LeagueSunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC)
      Best GoalkeeperDebjit Majumder (Mohun Bagan)
      Jarnail Singh Best DefenderAnas Edathodika (Mohun Bagan)
      Best MidfielderAlfred Jaryan (Aizawl)
      Best StrikerAser Pierrick Dipanda (Shillong Lajong)
      Emerging PlayerJerry Lalrinzuala (DSK Shivajians)
      Syed Abdul Rahim Best CoachKhalid Jamil (Aizawl)
      Best OrganizersDSK Shivajians
      Bengaluru FC
      Fairplay awardChurchill Brothers
      Best refereePranjal Banerjee

      See also

      References
      1. "I-League Matches". Soccerway.
      2. Jitendran, Nikhil (30 May 2016). "Shrinivas Dempo: 'Dempo SC will reach greater heights'". Goal.com. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
      3. "AIFF reinstates relegated Aizawl FC in I-League after club's impressive run". FirstPost. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
      4. "Salgaocar FC, Sporting Clube de Goa withdraw from I-League". Indian Express. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
      5. Paransar, Swapnaneel (15 September 2016). "Sporting Clube de Goa submit all licensing documents as Salgaocar stand firm on boycott". Goal.com. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
      6. "Bengaluru FC granted AFC license for 2016–17 season". Goal.com. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
      7. "Sporting Clube de Goa confirm their withdrawal from I-League, Dempo SC to follow suit". FirstPost. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
      8. "Minerva FC, FC Bardez Goa submit bids for direct entry into I-League". One India. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
      9. "AIFF issues fresh tender as interested I-League clubs' bids fall short". Times of India. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
      10. "AIFF EMERGENCY COMMITTEE REINSTATES CHURCHILL BROTHERS IN I-LEAGUE". The All India Football Federation. 8 December 2016. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
      11. "AIFF Welcomes Chennai City and Minerva Punjab to the I-League". The All India Football Federation. 11 December 2016. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
      12. "Aizawl F.C. Stadium". I-League.
      13. "Bengaluru FC Stadium". I-League.
      14. "Chennai City Stadium". I-League.
      15. "Churchill Brothers Stadium". I-League.
      16. "DSK Shivajians Stadium". I-League.
      17. "East Bengal Stadium". I-League.
      18. "Minerva Punjab Stadium". I-League.
      19. "Mohun Bagan Stadium". I-League.
      20. "Mumbai Stadium". I-League.
      21. "Shillong Lajong Stadium". I-League.
      22. "Ashley Westwood leaves Bengaluru FC after contract ends". ESPNFC. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
      23. "I-League: Bengaluru FC appoint Spaniard Albert Roca as new head coach". Goal.com. 6 July 2016.
      24. "I-League: DSK Shivajians opt to not renew Derrick Pereira's contract". Goal.com. 2 June 2016.
      25. "DSK Shivajians rope in Englishman Rogers as head coach". 14 June 2016.
      26. "I-League: Khalid Jamil steps down as Mumbai FC coach". goal.com. 15 June 2016.
      27. "I-League – Santosh Kashyap announced as new Mumbai FC Head Coach". goal.com. 22 June 2016.
      28. "Aizawl FC appoint former Mumbai FC coach Khalid Jamil as their head coach ahead of I-League". 20 December 2016.
      29. "Chennai City sack head coach Robin Charles Raja". ESPNFC. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
      30. "I-League 2017: Chennai City appoint V Soundararajan as head coach". Goal.com. 9 February 2016.
      31. "Churchill Brothers appoint Derrick Pereira as new head coach". 17 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
      32. "I-League 2017 – Official: Mumbai FC SACK Santosh Kashyap". 18 March 2017.
      33. "I-League 2017: Mumbai FC appoint Oscar Bruzon as new head coach to replace the sacked Santosh Kashyap". 19 March 2017.
      34. "Trevor Morgan resigns as East Bengal coach". 17 April 2017.
      35. "Mridul Banerjee replaces Trevor Morgan as East Bengal football coach". 18 April 2017.
      36. "Hero I-League regulations 2014–15" (PDF). Retrieved 7 July 2016.
      37. "I-League – Top scrores". Retrieved 1 February 2017.
      38. "Bengaluru FC 3–0 Mumbai". Soccerway. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
      39. "Minerva Punjab 0–5 East Bengal". Soccerway. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
      40. "BROTHERS 6–1 CHENNAI CITY – BEKTUR TALGAT NETS FOUR GOALS AS CHURCHILL ROMPS PAST CHENNAI CITY". Goal.com. 22 April 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
      41. "Here is the standing for the Fair Play award in this season of the #HeroILeague".
      42. "Sunil Chhetri wins the 'Hero of the League' award". 2 May 2017.
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