I-League in India

If I ask you what does EPL stand for or what does La Liga and Serie A mean , everyone will give me the correct answers in a flash. But does anyone know what does the I-league stand for? Have you heard the term before. I am sure i will not be getting many answers. There may be some of you, who know exactly what I am refering to….there may be some, who by guess work will get the right answer….and there may be those for whom the word is greek. So for people who are clueless, it is nothing but the Indian league referred to as the ONGC I-League. Most of us know almost everything about the EPL, La Liga and the Serie A….but what about the I-League. So here I am, trying to give everyone a brief insight of India’s own football league, the history of the league and the various teams involved in the fight to be called the best team in India.

I-League

The top tier of the Indian Football system is the I-League. Sponsored by ONGC, it started in 2007-2008 when it replaced the National Football League. Because the NFL was deteriorating, AIFF took the decision of relaunching it under the banner of the I-league. Some changes were introduced in this new format. The most important ones are listed below.

Each team was allowed to have 4 foreign players, with the restriction that only 3 of them would be allowed to play in the match.

Each team was required to register a minimum of 14 professional footballers.

It was mandatory for each team to have an u-19 development setup.

The first season saw 10 teams go head to head. It went all the way to the wire with Dempo, the defending NFL champions, winning the inaugral season in the end, based on goal difference. The second season saw the number of teams being increased to 12. Churchill Brothers who finished second in the first season, came up tops this time around. Currently the third season is in progress with around 7 matches gone. Dempo are at the top closely followed by Chirag United.

Teams in I-League 2009-2010 :

Churchill Brothers SC, Goa

Dempo SC, Goa

Sporting Clube De Goa, Goa

Salgaocar SC, Goa

Mohun Bagan, Kolkata

East Bengal, Kolkata

Chirag United, Kolkata

Mahindra United, Mumbai

Mumbai FC, Mumbai

Air-India, Mumbai

Pune FC, Pune

JCT FC, Phagwara

Shillong Lajong FC, Shillong

Viva Kerala, Kochi

Quality

One of my friends asked me last week during the Pune-Mumbai match…” You can never compare this with club football in England, Spain or Italy. It is light years apart “. Yes I agree, in terms of quality what he said is right. Someone who is accustomed to watching club football on a regular basis will feel the same. That does not mean that the league lacks quality. There is great talent on show. Indian internationals like Bhaichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri, Antony Pereira, Subrata Paul and foreigners like Ranty Martins Soleye and the league’s best player Odafe Onyeka Obolie of Churchill Brothers. However the important thing here is the passion, the commitment and the heart with which they play is the same. When the players put on their jerseys, they go out onto the field and give it their all. It doesn matter, if you are playing for Churchill or Pune or for Manchester United. What matters is you are playing football. You are playin to win. We as fans need to back them. Remember the days when you used to represent your class, your school or your department. You will then understand what I am trying to convey. Football in India needs to be looked upon differently from the grass root level. The good news here is that the picture is improving day by day. Clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool are slowly trying to make their presence felt in India. Remember one thing the EPL, the La Liga did not emerge one fine day all of its own. It started small and has now reached the top of club football. It is a journey. A journey that starts small, but surely ends big.

Support

I was shocked to see empty stands in Balewadi the other day, when I had gone to watch Pune play against Dempo. Everywhere you go, people are talking only about football. Sadly, the seats in the stadium were not reflecting this fact. People set their weekend schedules so that they will not miss their weekly action of the EPL. They stay awake till early morning to cover the Champions League. All I could ask myself is ” where is everyone ??? “. Talking about Pune there are some many clubs here. There are various divisions in club football. Even if the guys who play for these clubs come over, the stands will no longer be empty. Schools should encourage their students to go ahead and watch the game. They will learn so much by just watching a game of football. They will get to see the Bhutia’s, the Chhetri’s and the Subrata Paul’s of Indian football.

Home support is always referred to as the 12th man in a game. Nothing can be more motivating for a team, than the crowd getting behind them. Soccer fans will be well aware of the famous Anfield crowd and the European nights in football. What is it that makes them so special. It is the atmosphere, the atmosphere that is created by the home fans. All of us dream of going and watching a game at one of the churches of football someday. Why not live part of this dream. During the Dempo game in Pune, the crowd startd chanting ” Pune Pune Pune Pune Pune ” and ” Who are we …..PFC “. Believe me, I had goose bumps. People were howling, shouting, abusing the referee and what not. You need to be there to feel it, to live it.

Two months ago, if you had asked me about the I-League I would have been on the other side of the fence. But now, I know almost everything about the league. I follow the league and I love this league. I reach the stadium two hours prior to kick off. We have all seen players training prior to the match on tv, but seeing it in real is something completely different. The way I look at football in India has changed over the last month or so. All thanks to Pune Football Club. They have changed my outlook. It is high time you change your’s too. As they say better late than never. I do not know where this article will help change your mindset or not. Hope it does. One thing is for sure, you will one guy sitting in the D stand of the Balewadi stadium in Pune, way before anyone else turns up. Me.