Bigger, longer but still unpredictable
INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE 4 Having played the AFC Cup, newcomers Bengaluru FC may have the early advantage this time
NEWDELHI: It has not been a smooth ride for domestic football since the Indian Super League (ISL) began in 2014. The disruptor, according to All India Football Federation president Praful Patel, has got new investors and fatter pay cheques for some players but has also led to reduction in employment opportunities for many footballers.
That was because the ISL would precede the I-league --still the country’s most important competition even though it offers less prize money and isn’t marketed and televised as well as ISL --- and a number of Indian players would play in both.
This season things have changed. The bigger and longer ISL4 will run simultaneously with I-league for four months. With Star Sports, an ISL stakeholder, being the official broadcaster for both leagues, ISL has more prime time kick-off timings.
ISL received a shot in the arm when twice I-league champions Bengaluru FC jumped ship. It gave the ISL one of the more marketable brands in domestic football. They were joined by new team Jamshedpur FC, owned by the Tata Group.
The cherry on top is a spot in the 2019 AFC Cup qualification rounds for ISL winners. Previously reserved for the Federation Cup champions, this was the Asian governing body’s way of recognising the league that is the brainchild of the AIFF’S commercial partners.
ISL4 will also see most teams making wholesale changes. Champions ATK have decided the Spanish inputs that fetched them two titles needed a re-look, opting for a British feel. Among the eight franchises that played the first three seasons, only Mumbai City FC have retained their coach.
Bengaluru FC go in with probably the most settled line-up and coaching staff and having played in the AFC Cup this term should help them settle down. They lost Eugeneson Lyngdoh to ATK but recruited Gurpreet Singh and spent ~6.01 crore in the players’ draft. FC Pune City’s spending of ~3.63 crore was the lowest.
FC Pune City and Kerala Blasters have the strongest squads. Because the league will be longer, teams have mostly opted for youth.
Indian coaches will play second fiddle. Even the seasoned Derrick Pereira will assist a much younger Spaniard
Sergio Lobera at FC Goa. Ireland’s all-time leading goalscorer is one of the biggest names in this ISL. Having turned out for teams like Tottenham, Liverpool, Aston n Villa and West Ham United, apart from a brief spell at Inter Milan, it is s safe to say he will be ATK’S go-to man. Keane has also won three MLS tit tles with LA Galaxy.y Biggestgg challengeg for him thoughg will be the wea ather. Great things are expected from arguably the most high-profile signing. He is best known for hish deft touch and impeccable finishing ability, gathered from m stints with Tottenham, Manchester United and Fulham m. He will reunite with manager Renee Meulensteen, under whom he played at Fulham. Like many Indian players in the ISL, Delhi Dynamos’ latest acquisition has built a reputation playing in the wing. The right-back won the title with ATK last year and the I-league with Mohun Bagan in 2015. A regular in the national setup, Kotal, whose attackingttki prowess matchesth hihis ddefensivefi capabilties,bilti was one off the most expensivepensive defenders drafted this year.year His signing, to supplement Marcelinho, might give Pune a more well-rounded attack. The Uruguayan, who spent three seasons with Lazio, was the league’s third highest goal-scorer last year with five goals for North East United FC. Emiliano is expected to add to his last season’s total. Highest scoreer in ISL’S brief history, Iain Hume returns after a two-year spell at ATK where he scored 18 goals and also helped win the 2016 edition.e Hume’s work ethic annd familiarity with the conditions make him the most established threat in the ISISL, someone who could easily change Keralaa’s fortunes with Dimitar Berbatov to
as partner. I ndia’s n most valued striker has been part of
Chennaiyin FC since 2014. His ta ally stands at 13 goals. But given g his recent run of form, which also won him the 2016 Player of the Year award, Jeje is expected to finish on a high. Bengaluru FC’S acquisit tion of India’s No 1 goalkeeper for their maiden ISL has been the e highlight of their transfer activ vity. The experience of f spending three years at Nor rwegian club Stabaek FC could make Sandhu one of the best custodians. *The semi-finals will be played on home-andaway basiss between March 44-17
The final will be held in Kolkata on Mmarch 17