By Mark Baber
April 14 – The Indian Super League (ISL) franchises were announced on Sunday and the winning bids include leading celebrities of Indian film and cricket, much to the delight of promoters IMG Reliance. Even cricket legend and indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar (pictured) got in on the act. Local media and football officials have described the move variously as a big leap forward for Indian football, or marking its doom.
The winning ‘Partners’ ahead of the proposed September-November 2014 inaugural season are:
Delhi: Sameer Manchanda of Den Network (India’s largest cable TV distribution company).
Guwahati: Actor John Abraham and Shillong Lajong (I-League club).
Kolkata: Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, Harshavardhan Neotia, Atletico Madrid, Sanjeev Goenka, Utsav Parekh (Financial services).
Mumbai: Actor Ranbir Kapoor and Bimal Parekh (Chartered Accountant). Pune: Kapil Wadhawan, Dheeraj Wadhawan of the Wadhawan Group (Diverse business grouping including cricket).
Goa: Venugopal Dhoot of Videocon, Dattaraj Salgaocar (Mining, Hospitality, and Shipping company) and Shrinivas Dempo (Mining magnate and owner of I-League’s Dempo Sports Club).
Bangalore: Sun Group (One of the largest media networks in India.)
Kochi: Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and PVP Ventures (Media and entertainment investors).
According to IMG-R the base price for each franchise is Rs.120 crore for 10 years with the franchises are expected to invest in infrastructure and grassroots developments, including their own football academies.
The setting up of the new tournament and new clubs has been supported by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) who have agreed a 15-year partnership with IMG Reliance to radically restructure, overhaul, improve, popularise and promote the game of football throughout India, from the grassroots to the professional leve.
The agreement grants IMG Reliance all commercial rights to football across all football properties controlled by the AIFF including the national teams and all current and future professional leagues.
The teams will be formed of international and local players after player auctions with the hope being to wean Indian football fans away from Premier League and towards supporting Indian football.
Whilst the new tournament’s success depends largely on the amount of hype it can generate, many associated with the I-League clubs are far from convinced. Valanka Alemao, CEO of I-League champions Churchill Brothers told the Times of India:
“They have the same money-driven plan, ageing players and a tournament that has no sanctity. Of what use is a tournament that has no promotion or relegation system?”
Asking why corporates couldn’t tie up with existing clubs Valanka said: “Believe me, this is one of the most detrimental tournament India could ever have. It’s going to kill a sleeping giant without allowing it a chance to wake up and get out of bed.”
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