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A riot of colours hit the Salt Lake stadium’s skyline in Kolkata as deafening chants of “Lets Football” rang out loud from the 60,000-odd crowd.
Considered to be the “home of Indian football”, the city on Sunday witnessed the inauguration of the much awaited Indian Super League (ISL) – India’s star studded football league.
And striking the rights chords, Nita Ambani, founding Chairperson of Football Sports Development (ISL), declared the league open.
“Ami Indian Super League er subho suchona korchi (I declare the opening of ISL),” she read out in Bengali surrounded by Bollywood stars, sports celebrities and business tycoons apart from the representatives of the eight franchises.
The inaugural game, between Mumbai FC and Atletico De Kolkata, went in favour of the home team with the scoreline reading 3-0.
The Big Moment
Sachin Tendulkar – part owner of the Kerala franchise – was welcomed with the same thunderous roar that he received while walking out at Eden Gardens.
But it was Big B (as Amitabh Bachchan is often referred to) who drew the loudest cheers.
Tucked between Kokilaben Ambani – mother of Mukesh Ambani – and West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, the crowd went into frenzy every time his image flashed on the giant screens.
While expectation was rife that Big B would take to the field in his signature style, there was all-round disappointment when that did not happen.
Glitz and Glamour
As expected, the inaugural ceremony of ISL had its share of oomph, oodles and glamour.
Not to be missed was the bevy of Bollywood stars – mostly franchisee owners who had flown in for the inauguration.
May be not in the league of its cricketing counterpart – the Indian Premiere League, but the glitzy opening did mark the arrival of new-age Indian football.
While 160 musicians with drums and dolaks started the ceremony, actor Priyanka Chopra set the stage ablaze with her performance.
“Of course my son can watch the entire show on TV. But, this electric atmosphere has to be experienced first hand,” maintained Suparno Moitra, former regional head of Nasscom.
ISL has begun its journey. But whether it will do to Indian football, what Kerry Packer’s World Cricket Series did to cricket’s ODI format is yet to be seen.
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