Hero Indian Super League (ISL) defending champions Chennaiyin FC announced their 25-member squad for the 2018-19 season with Dhanpal Ganesh missing the cut for now.
The name of their efficient midfielder Dhanpal Ganesh was missing from the list, as the 27-year-old has been sidelined due to a knee injury.
Ganesh was a part of Chennayin’ FC’s setup in both Hero ISL 2015 and 2016 but failed to feature in a single game for them. However, he managed to turn the tables in the 2017-18 season, becoming one of the mainstays for the Marina Machans in the middle of the park, aiding both in defense and attack. Not only did he feature in 18 matches for the champions, but also scored two goals.
The Chennai-born player has a tremendous work rate and will definitely be missed by head coach John Gregory and the club at the start of the season. Another midfielder, Zonunmawia has been announced in the place of Ganesh. The youngster was a part of Chennaiyin’s reserve squad and will make his Hero ISL debut with the senior team in the 2018-19 edition.
The two-time ISL champion has retained 12 players from its title-winning team, including the four influential foreigners – Raphael Augusto, Mailson Alves, Inigo Calderon, and Gregory Nelson. The arrival of three more international signings – Brazilian defender Eli Sabia, Italian midfielder Andrea Orlandi, and Palestine forward Carlos Antonio Salom – will bolster the side as it bids to become the first team to retain the ISL trophy.
Chennaiyin will begin its title defense away to last season’s runner-up Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Sunday.
The squad of Chennaiyin FC for the start of ISL 2018-19:
Goalkeepers: Karanjit Singh, Sanjiban Ghosh, Nikhil Bernard
Defenders: Mailson Alves (Brazil), Eli Sabia (Brazil), Inigo Calderon (Spain), Jerry Lalrinzuala, Tondonba Singh, Laldinliana Renthlei, Zohmingliana Ralte, Hendry Antonay.
Midfielders: Raphael Augusto (Brazil), Gregory Nelson (The Netherlands), Andrea Orlandi (Italy), Francisco Fernandes, Thoi Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Germanpreet Singh, Sinivasan Pandiyan, Isaac Vanmalsawma, Bedashwor Singh, Zonunmawia
Forwards: Jeje Lalpekhlua, Mohammed Rafi, Carlos Antonio Salom (Palestine)
