Delhi Dynamos back attacking plan under Harm van Veldhoven ahead of inaugural Hero ISL
Delhi Dynamos have signalled an attacking approach as they prepare for the inaugural Hero Indian Super League, appointing Harm van Veldhoven as head coach and planning to play at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in front of local fans in the national capital in the lead up to the competition.
The franchise, seeking to attract supporters who are reportedly deprived of quality football throughout the year, has stressed an entertaining, high-pressing style and framed van Veldhoven’s hiring — facilitated by Dynamos’ Dutch partner Feyenoord Rotterdam — as aligned with that vision. There is an expectation within the camp that Dynamos will be organised in a 4-3-3 formation with a high-pressing approach, although the club acknowledged it is difficult to assert van Veldhoven will adhere to that plan if results do not go their way.
Van Veldhoven told the club he had not seen many of the Indian players before taking charge and said he may not fully learn about his squad until the end of the first season, raising questions about how quickly his preferred style can be implemented. The team has opted to conduct training and friendly matches behind closed doors; while friendly results have been described as encouraging, those opponents were of a much lower standard than the sides Dynamos will face in the HISL.
On squad selection, van Veldhoven indicated he expects Indian players to operate on the flanks while most foreign signings will occupy central positions, a plan guided by the belief that technical ability will matter more in the middle of the pitch. The Dynamos’ draft picks were reported to share that view, and the club has urged players to adopt the franchise’s stated approach.
The playing roster listed by the club includes goalkeepers Jagroop Singh, Kristof van Hout and Marek Cech; defenders Anwar Ali, Govin Singh, Munmun Lugun, Naoba Singh, Robert Lalthlamuana, Shouvik Ghosh, Stijn Houben and Wim Raymaekers; midfielders Adil Khan, Bruno Arias, Francis Fernandes, Gustavo Santos, Hans Mulder, Henrique Dias, Manish Bhargav, Pavel Elias, Shylo Malswamtluanga, Souvik Chakraborthy and Steven Dias; and forwards Alessandro Del Piero, Mads Junker, Manandeep Singh and Morten Skoubo. Harm van Veldhoven is listed as head coach and Alessandro Del Piero as the marquee player.
Francis Fernandes was noted as arriving into the Dynamos setup fresh from scoring in India’s 2-3 friendly defeat to Palestine on Monday, and the 28-year-old is expected to be an integral part of the squad. The report recalled Fernandes began his career as a winger, later becoming accustomed to playing across the front three behind the striker, that he made his name at Salgaocar after joining the club in 2006, and that he has been a regular with the national side since his debut in 2011.
The Belgian goalkeeper Kristof van Hout was highlighted for his height — described as six feet and ten inches — and as an imposing presence in goal; the article states he is considered to be the joint-tallest goalkeeper in professional football and that he has represented clubs including Standard Liege and Genk in domestic and continental competitions.
Before his first training session with the Indian contingent of Dynamos, van Veldhoven acknowledged he had limited prior exposure to many of his players, leaving the implementation of the club’s playing philosophy and the squad’s readiness for the HISL to be tested once training and competitive matches proceed.