ISL franchises to be unveiled on Sunday

Bollywood celebs, cricket legends, corporates are in the fray to own teams of the new football league

Organised by IMG Reliance in association with Star India, the league has the backing of All India Football Federation (AIFF), and is likely to see big names such as ex-Manchester United striker Louis Saha, former Argentina forward Hernan Crespo and England’s Michael Owen.

Seeking to revolutionise football in the country, organisers of the much-anticipated Indian Super League will unveil the eight franchises on Sunday, with cricket legends, Bollywood stars and a host of corporates in the fray to own teams.

Organised by IMG Reliance in association with Star India, the league has the backing of All India Football Federation (AIFF), and is likely to see big names such as ex-Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke, former Argentina forward Hernan Crespo and England’s Michael Owen.

PTI has learnt that bidders include “two Indian cricket legends, five Bollywood celebrities, three I-League clubs and five corporate entities”.”It remains to be seen who would ultimately be awarded the franchises,” a source close to the league said.

Anticipation around the ISL seemed to have been building with the organisers receiving positive response from more than 30 interested parties to its ‘Invitation To Bid’ tender notice. The bids closed on March 27. It is learnt that around 18 to 20 bidders have put in their money on ISL either through forming a consortium or individually.

This is for the first time that a franchise property in sports in India has elicit such a response from the business as well as sports and Bollywood community. IPL, in the year 2007, had 11 bids out of which eight won the franchises.

Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, who is reported to have bid with a consortium having Atletico Madrid in it, has already upped the competition among bidders.”It would come as a no surprise if one hears similar high- profile international clubs coming over to India as technical partners to the rest of franchises. Ranbir Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham – who are reportedly in the fray – are known for their love for the game and their association with certain top international clubs,” a source said.

The nine cities in the reckoning are Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Guwahati, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune, out of which eight will be shortlisted.Earlier, the Indian national coach said he was not sure if players would be practicing with their I-League clubs during the ISL. India coach Wim Koevermans said he wasn’t certain how the new venture would pan out for the national team.

“Our (National Team) first opportunity now is to play is in September. But we have to see if the I-League clubs have already started some sort of pre-season because it might affect the preparation of the national team,” said Koevermans “The ISL league will probably start in September but the I-League only starts in December.

“So the question I have is will there be a lot of the boys already in training with the I-League sidesor will they still have to start?  So I have to find out about that and see if it’s going to work out for the national team,” he mentioned.

Source:PTI