Signing on: Shield ambition gets leg up after busy summer
Tanushmita Das & Siddhant Mishra
September 11, 2024, 18:00 | Updated 18:00 IST
Odisha FC’s run to the semi-finals of the Indian Super League after finishing fourth was one to cherish. This was complemented by a run to the final in the Kalinga Super Cup, and an encouraging end to the AFC Cup as South Asian champions.
What added flavour to the campaign last season, though, was going through the home season unbeaten in the league. A fortress, is what the Kalinga Stadium has become for the Juggernauts.
Yet, finishing the season empty-handed was a bittersweet experience for fans, considering the team was on top of the ISL table for several weeks. While the agonising defeat in the Super Cup final was one to forget, it was a season that made fans believe.
Fast forward to September, and the management has made it clear it means business, with a busy summer of activity.
Coach Sergio Lobera’s contract extension until 2026 is being cheered on by the Juggernauts, while the addition of Hugo Boumous, arguably among the best midfielders in the league, means OFC has signalled its intention to challenge for the title and not be an also-ran.
In the run-up to the new season, we take a look at the incomings:
Hugo Boumous
The 28-year-old attacking midfielder has been a keen Lobera student, whose arrival could fill an important piece of the midfield jigsaw.
A versatile midfielder, he is comfortable with both feet, whose effective link-up play complements the forward line. More importantly, it takes pressure off Ahmed Jahouh, on whom the team is seen to be reliant on, especially in the middle of the park.
Quick on the counter, his ability to engineer transitions from defence to attack and to capitalise on dead-ball situations enable him to exploit gaps in the defence.
Raynier Fernandes
No stranger to the Kalinga, the central midfielder returns for a second stint in Odisha colours after a season away on the western coast. He had 20 appearances to his name during his first season here, and is an important Indian addition to the midfield who brings experience and depth.
While playing primarily in central midfield, he can also be deployed as a defensive midfielder, which also makes him a key alternative to Jahouh.
Rahim Ali
Another statement signing by Lobera, the dynamic forward adds flavour to OFC’s Indian contingent thanks to his ability to switch to the flanks.
Odisha’s struggles on the flanks last season made the requirement of an established winger clear, and the inclusion of Ali could lead to a more attacking approach from Lobera and build-up play from the wings.
Covering up on the right for much of last season seemed to limit Roy Krishna’s abilities and add pressure to Diego Mauricio, but the freedom to now rotate between the star forwards will allow Lobera to manage fatigue in the squad.
Saviour Gama
The Indian full back follows teammate Raynier Fernandes from Goa to Odisha, as the management seeks to address another key position. OFC’s defence was called into question on multiple occasions last season as restrictions on foreign nationals made fielding senior defenders Carlos Delgado and Mourtada Fall together difficult for the team.
Providing cover to Jerry Lalrinzuala at left back, Gama arrives as a saviour to the back line, which could allow Jerry L to venture forward in a bid to support the forwards. He can also stand in at centre back, thus providing cover to Delgado and Fall.
Rohit Kumar
Yet another Indian midfielder’s arrival cements the coach’s intentions to build a reliable bench strength and control the game in the middle of the park. The central midfielder, who can also play in a deeper role, has featured over 80 times in the Indian Super League, and joins from Bengaluru FC.
Know the manager: Tactical approach
Sergio Lobera belongs to the Catalan school of thought, with a relentless emphasis on possession-based football. Fans have been witness to an attacking flair in his style of play, with his teams known for exploiting the flanks, building play from the back, and for their passing acumen.
Speaking to the Juggernauts during pre-season, Lobera acknowledged that the team’s inconsistency on the road last season was a major reason for the slip-up in the title race, and that he would like to better the results away from home.
OFC’s reserve team, which featured in the Durand Cup, earned words of praise from the gaffer, who said the young players have shown a readiness to step up when called upon.
About the Authors:
Tanushmita Das: Senior Editor at Juggernauts Sporting Foundation, she is a dynamic follower of Indian and Odisha football, with a passion for research on sports at the grassroots level.
Siddhant Mishra: Editorial Director at Juggernauts Sporting Foundation, Siddhant leads the charge in shaping our creative voice through words. An avid football aficionado and a Juggernaut by heart.
