Indian football has grown leaps-and-bounds since the advent of ISL in 2014. With clubs investing in training senior as well as junior players, the tournament has helped the sport immensely in the country. Since the beginning of ISL, Indian players have shared the dressing room with world beaters which has had a very positive effect on the players.
ISL 2016 is going to be one of the most exciting football tournaments ever played in the history of India. With the new season beginning from 1st October, let us take a look at the five reasons why we should look forward to the latest edition of India’s football festival – ISL.
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#1 New Season, New Enthusiasm
When a new season of La Liga or the English Premier League begins, the world stands and takes notice. In India, the Indian Super League has become one such tournament which is eagerly awaited by the Indian football faithful.
With the ISL having the third highest average football attendance in the world, behind La Liga and English Premier League, this is set to be another great spectacle.
The third edition of ISL would see some of the biggest names in World football taking the pitch as players and as coaches, which makes the matches fiercer. The enthusiasm is already building up, with East Bengal and Mohun Bagan fans joining hands to support Athletico de Kolkata. This is what ISL has brought to the country. Rival fans have joined hands for supporting their ISL teams. Southern Indian fans support their teams in unison against Northern, Western or Eastern teams.
#2 New Tactical Battles
The coaching rivalries of ISL 2016 is surely going notches higher than in its past editions. With coaches from every corner of the world, there’s no dearth of footballing extravaganza on the show. The variety would ensure the viewers rigid pressing of England, tiki-taka of Spain and Joga Bonito from Brazil.
Amongst the gaffers, Zico holds the zenith spot. The former Brazilian is regarded as one of the greatest footballing icons ever to grace the game and with him as the tactician, FC Goa looks a formidable side any day. There’s another rivalry which makes the league even more exciting, the clash of two former Italian defenders.
Gianluca Zambrotta and Marco Materazzi have been former friends and teammates, plying their trade in Italy and donning the Italian national jersey for a long time together. Being part of one of the most formidable back-lines in recent years, these two players know a thing or two about defending. Materazzi is on a high after leading his side Chennaiyin FC to victory last season while Zambrotta would be hoping to have an instant impact against his former team-mate while coaching the Delhi Dynamos.
Marco Materazzi has already won over the audiences with resolute defending and fast counter-attacking approach to Chennaiyin’s gameplay. Zico, on the other hand, plays the possession-based game and likes his wingers to have an impact on the game. It will be interesting to see how the defensive-minded Zambrotta manages to handle the rigours of the ISL.
#3 The precursor to the U-17 World Cup
India has never hosted anything as big as the Under-17 World Cup in the football global Diaspora. The world’s finest teams would be here, albeit the U-17s. It is very crucial for India to present a fitting and non-controversial ISL 2016, which would be the fitting step-stone to the World Cup scheduled next year.
Roaring crowds, maverick support and a liking towards good football is a must to a successful World Cup and a lot of it depends on this year’s ISL. The World Cup committees have been supportive and have appreciated India’s efforts in preparing for the World Cup, and thus, ISL would be the real test.
A roaring, heavily successful ISL 2016 would ensure FIFA and its officials a guarantee to a good World Cup in the Asian country, which has been bereft of International football tournaments for some time now.
#4 World footballing superstars gracing the pitch
With every season, the stakes seem to be rising. Roberto Carlos was probably the greatest individual player to play in the ISL before this edition, but the swashbuckling Brazilian full-back couldn’t play at his best and coached his team later.
This year, a player of the stature of Diego Forlan has signed for Mumbai City FC. The Uruguayan striker is one of the finest players in the last generation and won the Golden Ball in the 2010 World Cup. Forlan is known to have mastered the control over the highly-controversial Adidas Jabulani, which was introduced to world football in the year 2016.
Diego Forlan joins the elite panel of Florent Malouda, Helder Postiga and Eidur Gudjohnson as the marquee player for an ISL side. With such winners on the platter, the ISL dish looks to be delicious already. It must be amazing for the Indian players to learn from their International heroes.
#5 Indian superstars
After all, the league was made for the development of the home-grown heroes, and the results have been amazing. Sandesh Jhingan, arguably India’s best centre-back today, got into the limelight with his amazing performances for ISL side Kerala Blasters in the 2014 edition. Romeo Fernandes, another young player, got his deserved accords after ISL 2014.
This season, though, would belong to a new look Indian contingent. The likes of Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sunil Chhetri and Eugeneson Lyngdoh have already staked their claims as the nation’s best and it’ll be interesting to see who gives them a run for their money this term. 23-year old Pronay Halder is expected to grab a lot of eyeballs with his strong defensive performances in the middle of the pitch for the Mumbai City FC.
With India slowly yet steadily growing on the International stage, it would be amazing for the followers to have new superstars to celebrate. Also, the world’s most followed game has always taken a backseat in the country and its high-time we give it the share of fanfare it deserves. Easily the most intriguing game for fans worldwide, moments in football can be breath-taking as well as heart-breaking. So let’s just celebrate, ‘C’mon India’ and ‘Let’s Football’.
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