AIFF Top Brass; I-League clubs meet to decide on how to strengthen the league

AIFF president Praful Patel was also present at the meeting

It was an elite gathering as the Owners and Top Officials of the I-League clubs met the All India Football Federation President Praful Patel at a Hotel in the Capital on Thursday evening with AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das and I-League CEO Sunando Dhar also present. The Meeting, very much informal, unanimously decided to create a joint concerted effort for the development of the I-League and “build up a hype around the League”.

It was decided that the Clubs would nominate two Committees to promote the I-League better. The two Committees – a Marketing and Technical Committee would be part of a joint Committee working collectively with all other stakeholders involving the League.

Patel stressed that the I-League stays the “primary League of the Country”.

“The AIFF supports the Hero I-League to the fullest and we will continue to do so,” he stated.

We should learn marketing and fan development from European Leagues: Sunando Dhar

Sunando Dhar, recently back from an AFC Workshop in Singapore also informed about the possibility of paying a visit to top some European Leagues to “witness and learn on marketing and fan development.”

“Clubs can also have a look at the match day operations, youth development programmes, etc, and it can be planned in September,” he proposed, much to the appreciation from the participating Clubs.

Meanwhile, Mr Patel congratulated and welcomed newcomers Aizawl FC into the I-League.

Robert Royte, Aizawl FC president, the newly promoted team into the I-League invited all the Clubs to witness Aizawl FC's opening match in the I-League.

“We are a Club who have reaped huge benefits from our Academy system. We invite you all to come over and watch us. That would be a huge encouragement for us,” he informed.

The list of representatives from the Hero I-League Clubs stay as follows:

Srinjoy Bose, Debashish Dutta (both Mohun Bagan AC); Parth Jindal, Mustafa Ghouse, Mandhar Tamhane (all Bengaluru FC); Debabrata Sarkar, Amit Sen, Arunava Bhattacharya (all East Bengal Club); Nandan Piramal, Chirag Tanna (both Pune FC); Atul Badgamia (Mumbai FC); Peter Vaz, Victor Fernandes (both Sporting Clube de Goa); Larsing Sawyan (Shillong Lajong FC); Kunal Aggarwal (Bharat FC); Robert Royte (Aizawl FC).