Atletico de Kolkata retain Josemi, Nato

Indian Super League (ISL) defending champions Atletico de Kolkata on Friday said it has retained the services of Spanish defender Jose Miguel Gonzalez Rey, better known as "Josemi", and Botswana midfielder Ofentse Nato for the second edition of the tournment.

Atletico earier signed striker Iain Edward Hume. Both Nato and Josemi played crucial roles in Atletico's title-winning effort.

Head coach Spaniard Antonio Lopez Habas said the duo have been retained based on their performance last year and added he hopes they would continue with their good form in the upcoming season too.

"We have retained Josemi and Nato basis their performance in the last season which helped us immensely in the defence and midfield and I feel they will continue to prove their determination to perform in the next season as well. Their contributions will be essential without any doubt," Habas said in a release.

"Atletico de Kolkata is consistently making some sensible choices to build the team for 2015. The motive is to build a favourable and experienced bench strength which will be an asset over the taxing three month long tournament," said Atletico de Kolkata's co-owner Sanjiv Goenka.

"Josemi and Nato's performances last year have been game changers for us on numerous occasions. It is but a natural process that they have been retained as consistency along with experience are the most important factors for any player on the field," said the team's another co-owner Utsav Parekh.