The sixth edition of the Indian Women’s League or the IWL is set to kick off on Wednesday, 26 April 2023 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat with 16 teams divided into two groups of eight in a new format this season. The top four teams of each group will qualify for the quarterfinals after the conclusion of the group stages next month.
Group A consists of IWL holders Gokulam Kerala FC with last season’s competitors Sports Odisha and Mata Rukmani FC and five debutants in this group for the competition namely East Bengal, Misaka United FC, Mumbai Knights FC, HOPS FC and Kahaani FC.
Group A
Gokulam Kerala FC
Having won the last two IWL titles, the first club to ever do it, Gokulam Kerala FC will be favorites to win the competition for a third straight season for serial domination. The side has to win their group for that to reach the quarterfinals and it will be a huge surprise if they don’t top Group A with an immensely talented squad. Head coach Anthony Andrews will be looking to guide his team for a second successive league honour under his stewardship.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Beatrice Ntiwaa Nketia (Ghana), Soumya Narayanasamy, Minha AP, Anitha Selvam
Defenders: Sorokhaibam Ranjana Chanu, Michael Castanha, Loitongbam Ashalata Devi, Manju Baby, C Reshma, Cris Mariya Saju, Thounaojam Kritina Devi
Midfielders: Dangmei Grace, Indumathi Kathiresan, Kashmina, Hemam Shilky Devi, Soniya Jose, Arathy PM, Baby Lalchhandami, Greeshma MP, Asem Roja Devi
Forwards: Sandhiya Ranganathan, Harmilan Kaur, Manasa K, Shilji Shaji, Sabithra Bhandari (Nepal), Vivian Adjei Konadu (Ghana), Harishka Jain
Head Coach: Anthony Andrews
Gokulam will miss some stars of the last campaign and national teamers in the team this time like Aditi Chauhan, Dalima Chibber and Manisha Kalyan who recently made history by winning the Cypriot top division league in Europe with Apollon Ladies FC. Still, the addition of two other players from the national team in Indumathi Kathiresan and Hemam Shilky Devi will solidify the midfield. Dangmei Grace will captain the side with Ashalata Devi providing the leadership at the back. Youngster Shilji Shaji will bring her splendid goal-scoring form with India’s U17 team to the club level while Sabithra Bhandari from Nepal is also poised to showcase her scoring instinct. Two more foreign recruits in Beatrice Ntiwaa Nketia and Vivian Adjei Konadu from Ghana are set to make their mark in the tournament.
East Bengal
Debutants East Bengal will like to make the most of their opportunity to play in the national division. The Moshal girls won the Kanyashree Cup or the Calcutta Women’s League this year and on request of the IFA qualify for the tournament. They are the sole representatives from West Bengal and had a come long way having the team disbanded several times as recently as the year 2021. Now, East Bengal can continue on their progress by becoming one of the four teams from the group to enter the quarterfinals.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Gurubari Mandi, Melody Chanu, Jambalu Tayang
Defenders: Bandana Roy, Devajani Debi, Mini Roy, Anita Oram, Ratna Halder, Mamata Singh
Midfielders: Sashwati Sarkar, Trisha Mallick, Kabita Saren, Neelu Tirkey, Rimpa Halder, Naocha Debi, Barnali Karar, Giani Mara
Forwards: Sushmita Bardhan, Tulsi Hembram, Mousumi Murmu, Singo Murmu, Mamata Mahata, Sulanjana Raul (subject to availability)
Head Coach: Sujata Kar
Former Indian international and the club’s present head coach, Sujata Kar called up 11 players from the Kanyashree Cup triumph to the WSL squad. The others have been picked through trials. FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup custodian Melody Chanu is in the ranks and will safeguard the sticks again while Sushmita Bardhan, Tulsi Hembram and Mousumi Murmu hope to bring their scoring feet from the state league to the big stage now. Another forward Sulanjana Raul is currently involved with India’s U-17 team for the Asian Cup qualifiers round 1 in Kyrgyz Republic and will join the squad after her national commitments. East Bengal is also carrying a successful streak to IWL having won all of their games in the Kanyashree Cup.
Misaka United FC
Hailing from Karnataka, Misaka United FC will make their IWL debut this season despite finishing second once again in the state league. This is due to winners Kickstart FC having a direct qualification berth in the national top division. Misaka’s star attraction for the season will be defender Mithila Ramani and overseas signing Sonia Opuku in midfield. Nisila Majwa will be the main attacking threat for the side collecting the best forward award in the Karnataka state league with 13 goals and 5 assists.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Binti Mazlan, LC Lallianzuali, Hempria Seram
Defenders: Kamasani Durga, Sudha Ankita Tirkey, Mithila Ramani, Diana Zairemsiami, Ria Glains, Usham Pusparani Chanu
Midfielders: Lalrinmawii, Sunalinda Lawren, Nisila Majwa, Rivka Ramji, Sonia Opuku (Ghana), Tarini Kumar, Mythili Parvati Vidya, Kanchan Rawat, M Nandeshwori Devi
Forwards: Lavanya Upadhyay, Lalrinmuani, Lucy Kwekwe Jira, Simran Gurung
Sports Odisha
The second team from the Eastern state alongside Odisha FC in Group B, Sports Odisha want to go better than their fourth-place finish in the league format last season. They are a government-owned team to nurture local talents and ended in the third position in their state league behind winners Odisha FC and East Coast Railway. Sports Odisha might not have talented Indian national team forward Pyari Xaxa but Manisha Naik has proven to be an efficient goal-scorer for the side ranking top in the state league with seven goals from 10 games. She could be the key to guiding her side to the last eight of the IWL.
Mumbai Knights FC
HOPS FC
House of Power Soccer, shortly known as HOPS FC, qualified for their first IWL season by claiming the Delhi Women's Premier League title. They won an incredible 16 out of 16 matches in the competition. Run by the Dharan Foundation Trust with no fee required for admission, the Haryana-born talents will play without any pressure or expectation on them as they look to enjoy the occasion.
Mata Rukmani FC
The three times Chhattisgarh league champions, Mata Rukmani FC is making their second appearance in the IWL. They finished in the second-last position in their debut season, collecting only one win from 10 matches. The club was founded as an initiative to help underprivileged girls through sports with the football sector being monitored by Ardor Football Academy since September 2021. It will be a struggle for the club again this campaign with some big hitters in the group.
Kahaani FC
Another side making their debut in the IWL is local club Kahaani FC from Ahmedabad where the tournament is being hosted. They made it to this stage after winning the Gujarat state league cup open age category back in September. Lalita Saini will take charge of the women’s team in the IWL with the objective to use the home advantage to get something from a tough group.
Also Read | IWL 2023: Groups & Fixtures
