The All India Football Federation and its marketing partners IMG-Reliance are considering of changing the format of the I-League, the Indian Professional Football League. Under consideration is a plan to move away from the European way of running a home-and-away league format and change it into a North American Major League Soccer format of two conferences with playoffs to determine the champions.As per the ideas the I-League would be a 16 team affair with a Western and Eastern Conference. The only issue here would be that currently you have four teams in the East/Northeast in Kolkata (East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Prayag United, Pailan Arrows) and Shillong Lajong FC; while the rest of the clubs are situation in Goa, Maharashtra plus Chirag United Kerala and HAL from Bangalore.
The motive behind such a move isn't clear though the federation is selling the idea of a more vibrant and attractive league though a key element would be also to cut cost of running the I-League, which is growing each season due to the amount of travel involved.
The AIFF and IMG-Reliance are set to meet the I-League clubs tomorrow after those had sought a meeting with them following an own meeting earlier this month. Here the report: I-League clubs get together, seek meeting with AIFF/IMG-R . The AIFF and IMG-Reliance will present their plans and await feedback from the clubs.
One though has to question if the MLS format is the way forward for the I-League. Then I have major doubts if this is the best way to further develop the league, then the decision of winning leagues through playoffs is something which I wouldn't like, then a proper league should finish with the league table and not a one-off match. The whole exercise becomes a league-cum-cup competition.
I-League should be I-League...
ReplyDeleteThere should a secondary league, which should be experimented this way! and that secondary league SHOULD HAVE MANDATORY participation from the best league of each state (I-league sides aside).
Our problem today is NOT TALENTED Youngsters... It's lack of exposure & avenues for them to showcase their talent. So, the secondary league (about 30 teams) can take up a league-cum-cup format setup & nurture talent further.
Costs might be significantly higher, but if quality football has to be opened up to the masses, some investment needs to be made.
sorry, i meant "best team*** of each state" in the second line!
ReplyDeleteI cannot understand why i-league matches are held at 2 pm and 3 pm in this heat....does anybody watch these matches....why cant they be at 8 or 9 pm...
ReplyDeleteby divd into conferences, more teams get chance to play and they concentrate on these games besides of their state leagues / 2 conf not enough divd 4 ,then winners and runners up goes to playoffs
ReplyDeleteanother reason is every clubs investing 4 or 5 cr with out earnings every yr,
ReplyDelete