Sajeesh — a striker who is nearly as good as a quality foreign player

E. Sajeesh, a talented striker, could be the missing piece for the struggling Indian football team.

The new Kerala Super League is set for an August start, and the search is on for quality players for the six franchises in the fray. One player, who could be high on every team’s list, is E. Sajeesh. The Kerala Police striker, who impressed in the Santosh Trophy’s preliminary stage in October and in the ongoing Kerala Premier League, is being watched by other teams and coaches with much interest.

The KPL, which enters the semifinal stage here on Thursday, does not allow foreign players this year and Kerala United coach Saheed Sunkanmi Ramon feels Sajeesh’s presence gives the Police a big advantage.

“The only striker who is close to the standard of foreigners is Sajeesh,” said the Nigeria-born Ramon, a former coach of Kolkata’s Mohammedan Sporting, in a chat with The Hindu here on Wednesday.

And Ramon, who coached Kerala United to its maiden KPL title last season, explained why Sajeesh is so good.

“He is strong enough to hold the ball till the other players arrive, and he has good positioning. He is very fast and his finishing ability is good… these are the qualities of a good striker. He is good in air too.

“You polish him properly, he will be a very good player.”

India failed to score a single goal in the recent AFC Asian Cup in Doha, sinking without earning a point, and Ramon feels players like Sajeesh could help the national team’s cause.