Finding backers for Mohun Bagan, East Bengal the key

THERE IS ALSO THE ISSUE OF AIZAWL FC WHO ARE LEADING THE ILEAGUE WITH FOUR ROUNDS TO GO. SHOULD THE NEW LEAGUE KICKOFF IN 201718 AND AIZAWL FC ARE EXCLUDED, IT COULD UNDERMINE AIFF’S MOST IMPORTANT TOURNEY.

If corporate backers are not found by May, the new 10-team football league comprising ISL franchises and I-league clubs may not kick-off in 2017-18.

That is the biggest but not the only challenge to this union of leagues. This is what HT learnt from officials of the AIFF on Friday. They spoke on condition of anonymity.

The officials said talks are on between the AIFF’S commercial partners and business groups interested in investing between ~ 40 crore to ~ 50 crore annually — the budget of an ISL franchise that is nearly three times of what these clubs spend in a season — over a sustained period of time each in Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. An international liquor company and an Indian multinational have shown interest, the officials said. If backers for the clubs are not found in two months, the new league will have to be deferred, the officials said.

That’s because most players would become free agents by the end of May and teams, both in the ISL and the I-league, would need clarity on whether there will be one, new league in 2017-18 from November that runs for five to seven months or status quo.

Knowing that soonest could be more important for Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan who are representing India in the AFC Cup this season.

Should one of them qualify for the knockout rounds, they may have to play from August and would need to sign fresh contracts with players. After financers are found, it will have to be decided whether Mohun Bagan and East Bengal can share Kolkata as their home with two-time ISL winners Atletico de Kolkata.

JOHNSON, MICKELSON ADVANCE TO QUARTERS

number one Dustin Johnson beat Zach Johnson and Phil Mickelson continued his strong form to reach the WGC Dell Match Play quarter-finals in Texas on Saturday.

Dustin Johnson used birdies on 13 and 14 to end the match as he defeated double champion Zach Johnson 5&4 in the round of 16 to advance to the last eight where he will take on Sweden’s Alex Noren later on Saturday.

Noren was a 3&1 winner over American Brooks Koepka at Austin Country Club.