ISL 2026-27 Preview: Five Churchill Brothers players to watch in Fatorda opener
On October 10, 2026, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa, was preparing to host the fourth game of the opening matchweek of the Indian Super League 2026-27 season, when home side Churchill Brothers will face Mumbai City FC.
Churchill Brothers entered the ISL after Jamshedpur FC withdrew, with Tata Steel transferring its entire shareholding in JFSPL (Jamshedpur Football & Sporting Private Limited) and its ISL Club Licensing to Churchill Brothers FC. The club, described as two-time I League winners and three-time Durand Cup champions, have assembled a squad that includes Indian players such as Gaurav Bora, Melroy Assisi and Trijoy Savio Dias, and have reappointed Cypriot coach Dimitris Dimitriou to lead their debut ISL campaign.
Churchill’s first foreign signing for 2026-27 is Gutiérrez, a Colombian attacking midfielder brought in to provide creativity for the Red Machines. The article states he helped the Goan outfit finish the 2024-25 season strongly, ending second behind Inter Kashi, spent two years in India with Dempo in the Indian Football League, made his professional debut in Colombia with Patriotas and developed as an offensive outlet with Llaneros FC; he is also described as a former York United forward, a set-piece specialist and tactically versatile.
Gaurav Bora, identified as a Guwahati-born defender, is highlighted as a defensive mainstay for Churchill Brothers. His previous clubs listed include Pune City, Chennai City, Odisha FC, North East United FC and Mohammedan SC, and he has represented the Indian U23 team; the piece adds that Bora will be tasked with containing a Mumbai City FC attack led by Wilmar Jordan Gill, Vikram Partap, Farukh Choudhary, Brandon Fernanes and Sergio Llamas.
Salou is presented as a marquee defensive acquisition with international experience, having represented Burkina Faso at AFCON 2024 and won the Armenian Premier League and Armenian Cup with FC Urartu. The source reports he featured in FC Urartu’s UEFA Champions League Qualifiers, starting both matches against Bosnian side HŠK Zrinjski Mostar, and describes him as a physically combative midfielder expected to bring defensive stability and experience from spells in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia.
The article names Barretto as a Goan winger who recently moved from Jamshedpur FC to Churchill Brothers after time with FC Goa reserves, Gokulam Kerala, Kerala Blasters, Chennaiyin FC and Jamshedpur FC. It notes Barretto’s pace on the flanks and says coach Dimitris Dimitriou will rely on him to create chances, specifically for striker Wayde Lekay.
Wayde Lekay is recorded as Churchill Brothers’ deadline-day South African signing and as having had a productive maiden season in India with Churchill, scoring at an average of more than one goal every two games. The profile lists his earlier clubs as TS Galaxy and Steenberg United in South Africa and FC Trollhättan in Sweden, mentions interest from Basundhara Kings before Churchill secured his return, and records his height as 187 centimetres while naming him a strong contender for the ISL Golden Boot.
Churchill Brothers will make their ISL debut at home in the fourth game of the opening matchweek of the Indian Super League 2026-27 season against Mumbai City FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa.