To popularise the game and put India on the global football map, IMG-Reliance Industries and Star India are launching a new football league, Indian Super League (ISL), with eight teams.
The championship, which will feature former international stars playing alongside Indian footballers, is expected to kick off in October. The eight teams are Kerala Blasters, Team Mumbai, Team Chennai, Delhi Dynamos, Northeast United, FC Pune City, FC Goa and Atletico de Kolkata.
While celebrities John Abraham (Northeast), Abhishek Bachchan (Chennai), Ranbir Kapoor (Mumbai) and Sachin Tendulkar (Kerala) own teams, Salman Khan and Varun Dhawan are endorsing the league.
Nita Ambani, who chairs the organising committee and is also Chairperson of Football Sports Development, said: “We are hoping to build a system to nurture talent and make our own national football heroes. However, I must say that these are initial years and we are taking baby steps. The road ahead is long before we take football to its deserving place in Indian sport.”
Organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), and with corporate houses backing it, the Hero Indian Super League will offer domestic football greater global exposure. Speaking at the logo launch, AIFF President Praful Patel said: “This is the first tournament of this nature approved by (world governing body) FIFA anywhere in the world. The I-League is there and will continue to be the mainstay of Indian football but this (ISL) is a unique product.”
Star India, which also owns the broadcast and sponsorship rights, will use its sports properties to take the game to the fans. The league will also implement various football development projects.
The ISL has been in the pipeline since December 2010, when IMG-Reliance inked a 15-year, $155-million deal with the All India Football Federation to “radically restructure, overhaul, improve, popularise and promote” soccer in India.
With the Indian Premier League T20 cricket tournament a runaway success, India is seeing several sports such as hockey, badminton and kabbadi take a similar league route.