@ashlesh, BFC did not need ISL to grab eyeballs (and footfalls too). With proper planning, right people at the right places, taking some financial risks, any metro city in India can host a popular football club: that's my belief. If there is support from AIFF, it will be easier. There is no need for circus tournaments with 'razzle dazzle' (read bikini-clad cheer leaders).
Why have we created a faulty model of a league with no incentives for a corporate to invest (and showing no intentions to correct it) and passing judgment that it's a fail? OK, if it is faulty, then mend it, change it. But do not discard it.
Post-ISL, the fans (well, glory hunters actually) will shift to EPL/ La Liga till the next edition. They will hate the less glamourous I-league and shun the lousy national team. Is that how the game will go on in India?
secondly, i find it funny that whenever a development in ISL is made, contrary to what has been thought about it, they only argument comes up - How will it help youth development, how will it improve indian football, how can we have two month old league unlike anywhere in the world, this will kill i league clubs.
Remember one thing every step in football is not meant to help grassroot, youth development or making indians play like messi. For other things you have other developments like FIFA acdemies, more games for youth footballers etc etc. These two are different questions altogether.
The way I-League is run, the way I-Leageu clubs could blackmail AIFF, the way players are recruited, contracts given, thrown out, not given salary, youths benches, licensing criteria taken as a joke is also not going to help indian youth football anymore than ISL.
Running a club is no less than running a business. And business needs revenue. BFC is lucky to have 8000+ people at home games. But ask yourself, is it enough? Will BFC be able to make ends meet and make profit at the same time. Dont think its possible if crowd strength doesn't increase. Bengaluru was anyways a football deprived city. So it worked for them with the right people filling right posts. As for I league, its dull and not fascinating at all. Its a boring package. Indian mentality is to go after the best. Glory hunters you can say. ISL is completely made for indian audience. With decent class football( much higher than I league) and glamour, people may like it. They want to see good quality footballers in action. I think that ISL with the right formula may succeed. And who says that its not gonna be of any help to indian football.If our current generation footballers are exposed to high quality training and facilities, improvement is bound to be there. As for grassrooots, a lot still needs to be done and I ACCEPT THAT ISL MAY NOT HELP. But just think that if this league becomes longer format, with clubs training round the year and correct grassroots programme, it will help i think.
BFC campaign will die out shortly I agree; in fact, happening otherwise would surprise me. But why it is inevitable? Why will not they be given a chance (to survive)?
Why TV revenue, if any, is not shared with I-league clubs, but promised for ISL clubs? Why IMG-R doesn't find a broadcaster, and a sponsor? Why I-league is not started with a bang as you wanted @ashlesh? First create a level field, then see if I-league succeeds or not.
@rudra, ISL is going to impact Indian football scenario, positively or adversely. It has to impact in some way, be it developing Indian football, spreading fan base or improving infra. That is why it is important, and we discuss it. If it were EK Nayanar Trophy or Airlines Gold Cup, we wouldn't have bothered.
All the faults of I-league, as you have listed, are hallmarks of a weak management, and can be corrected. For these you don't stifle the national league ....
not sure about stifling the national league, but clubs needs stifling and that's why I support the kicking out the those clubs even if its dodgy, slightly confusing. also it seems really difficult to get things to correct as clubs repeatedly resort to some loopholes. It is important to note that the clubs we are proud of today, and the yesteryear's footballers worship are all responsible for the demise of football, and it's not only AIFF who can be blamed. Modern ideas and outlook can only come when there's money (because only the incentive of profit can get people to take it more seriously, get more professional guys, take decisions based on a sound model rather than pure emotions) and that money has to come from somewhere.That somewhere is our pockets and why would I give that money when the product is I-League?
Okay, lets just say this. If IMG-Reliance just changed the rules to making this a full season (6-8 month) league and added the AFC 3+1 rule then we would be fine and there is a way to glamorize a league with that rule as some people would like to disagree.
However, for now, with the current rules, it just won't work.
The leagues won't be merged. I am convinced that quote is just a placeholder and then once 2016 arrives we will make up an excuse to disband the I-League (financial problems etc) and then give more light to ISL.
Comments
They want to see good quality footballers in action.
I think that ISL with the right formula may succeed.
And who says that its not gonna be of any help to indian football.If our current generation footballers are exposed to high quality training and facilities, improvement is bound to be there. As for grassrooots, a lot still needs to be done and I ACCEPT THAT ISL MAY NOT HELP.
But just think that if this league becomes longer format, with clubs training round the year and correct grassroots programme, it will help i think.
but dont know about foreigners rule ..