With foreign players, cricketers and B-town, ISL already a money-spinner
12 Oct 2014 5:40 PM IST
Indian football’s biggest event to start on Sunday with grand opening ceremony
The owners and co-owners of teams from eight states, participating in the Indian Super League, starting on Sunday in Kolkata (Photo: PTI)
Mumbai: Football in India has been restricted to fans in the recent past for the national team could not come up with anything magical. Walk into a sports bar on a weekend, usually crowded with teenagers, during the English Premier League matches and all that one can hear is, “No bro, we do not watch I-League games, they are boring. No fancy players too. We love Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona, even Juventus. Mohammedan? What?” is usually the buzz.
“Sunil Chhetri is cool but Wayne Rooney is cooler. Yes, I went to only one I-League match because Virat Kohli was in the stadium,”sums up what sells in the country.
But these kids in the bar cannot be blamed either. Though the I-League started with an aim to escalate Indian football but instead, it left the sport high and dry.
The golden era (1951-1962), when the nation won two gold medals at Asian Games, was shortlived. Since then, there have been hot cakes in club football like Baichung Bhutia, Bruno Cutinho, Chima Okorie to the present day Chhetri, but, 11 players of such stature could not be found at the same period for the national team. There was talent but there was no money. The arrival of Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and the Indian cricket team's World Cup victory in 1983 further narrowed the inlets. Not only football, but hockey - the national sport - suffered as well.
But it is only due to cricket and Indian Premier League (IPL), the ISL came into being.
Lifeline to football
Indian Super League can be considered as a lifeline to football in the country. Why? Through the grassroots development programme through the league and the interest generated among the youth, it is likely to inspire many kids to hang up their cricket pads and pump the old deflated football, lying ignored in the attic.
The enthusiasm for the beautiful game, earlier limited to West Bengal, Goa and Kerala, is all set to grasp the nation. Though the major attraction remain the foreign footballers, the local players, under their wings, will have a good chance to make a name for themselves. A goal by Nicolas Anelka, assisted by Rahim Nabi, does sound good, doesn't it?
The opening ceremony followed by the match between Atletico De Kolkata and Mumbai City FC, about to take place on Sunday at Saltlake Stadium in Kolkata, will not only throw open the tournament – considered second most rich after IPL – but it promises a new dawn. Eight city teams will fight for the trophy and prize money of Rs. 8 crore.
The irony is that the same India pulled out of the World Cup in Brazil in 1950 because the nation did not have money to buy air tickets.
Master stroke (Cricket and Bollywood)
The brains behind ISL played a master stroke bringing cricketers and the film industry in the fray. Their presence adds to the spunk. Among the cricketers, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Chennayin FC), Sourav Ganguly (Atletico De Kolkata), Virat Kohli (FC Goa) and Sachin Tendulkar (Kerala Blasters FC) have raised the bar as co-owners.
Ranbir Kapoor (Mumbai City FC), Hrithik Roshan (FC Pune City), Abhishek Bachchan (Chennaiyin FC), John Abraham (North East United FC), Varun Dhawan (FC Goa) are the filmstars who bought stakes in the mentioned teams. The best part is that all the co-owners are football lovers and are well read about the sport. John and Ranbir have a decent touch too.
Players to watch out for
Fredrick Ljungberg (Mumbai City FC): One of the star players for Sweden and Arsenal in the English Premier League (EPL). He has worked closely with the legendary Arsene Wenger and helped the club secure the Premier League title in 2001-02 season and FA Cup double.
Position: Striker
David James (Kerala Blasters FC): Another product of EPL, James donned the England jersey for 13 years and appeared for big guns Liverpool (1992-1999) and Manchester City (2004-2006) apart from few other clubs. His last World Cup was in 2010 (Germany) when he was 39.
Position: Goalkeeper
Joan Capdevila (North East United FC): He was a part of Spain’s World Cup winning squad in 2010. Capdevila’s tryst with Benfica, Espanyol, Villareal will stand in good stead when he walks out in the middle for North East United.
Position: Left-back
David Trezeguet (FC Pune City): The French fans remember him as the one who missed the penalty in the 2006 World Cup final against Italy. But that doesn’t change the fact that he has been a legend for the national team and Juventus.
Position: Striker
Robert Pires (FC Goa): Though he had announced retirement from international football, he kept training with the Arsenal team – where he played for six years – and now, he is about to come out for the Goa franchise.
Position: Winger
Del Piero (Delhi Dynamos): One of the most sought after players at one point of time. He has played alongside legends like Roberto Baggio, Francesco Totti among others and is the fourth leading joint-scorer for the national team. He spent 19 years with Juventus with 208 goals.
Position: Forward
Marco Materazzi (Chennaiyin FC): The manager cum player is remembered as the player who got headbutted by Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final. But the Italian, amidst all negativities, stood out as a footballer. Though he could not do much with the national team, he was a star for Inter Milan.
Position: Defender
Luis Garcia (Atletico De Kolkata): The football frenzy state is looking forward to this Spanish warrior for he is ambidextrous (he can kick with both feet). Coming from the tiki-taka brand of football, this individual is likely to turn many heads on the red soil. He was instrumental in Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League triumph in 2005.
Position: Left winger
With the tickets priced as less as Rs.125 (minimum), it remains to be seen whether the Indians find their lost love for football through the tournament.
( Source : dc )
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