CFL to start in third week of July, format remains same as last year for premier division. 10 teams to play in round robin format in single leg encounters. Bottom 4 gets relegated and 4 teams from Super Division gets promoted. Grounds shortlisted are EB, MB, MSC grounds and Barasat stadium. Derby venue haven't been decided yet but in all likelihood it's going to be Siliguri.
Teams can register 3 foreigners while 2 can be fielded. Mandatory U23 player reduced from 2 to 1 but a team must have one U23 player fielded at all times. Also all teams in premier division must have U18 squads except Army XI.
IFA can schedule a proper league running for 4-5 months with all the other teams not playing in either I-League or ISL..these teams can play the final leg with lesser time..cant understand what's stopping them.. this is actually killing football in our state. maybe the cost factor is there, but we used to have a proper structure earlier.
When there was neither any national/I-league/ISL, Kolkata did have a very strong league which lasted for almost 7-8 months (during the 70 and even 80s). I believe it was because of this structure that Indian team performed so well during that time. lesser known teams outside the big 3 used to churn out such good players(someone like PK Banerjee never played for any top team), and the league was extremely tough...
With Indian pan leagues, instead of copying or emulating such structure with a professional approach, we have killed such existing structure and also current commotion in Indian football without proper though process being applied.. Why am I saying the same thing again..
Anyway..I read in articles how tough the league was, and how people used to flock to the stadiums. even heard stories that men after their family members' (even own son) funeral, still used to go visit the games. Heard stories about all night being in queue to get a ticket in the morning hours..All those are history- thanks to all associated with the game.
Isl is pp's headache...should not be IFA's whose mandate is to offer a platform for west Bengal talent....
I agree with @sauravindia , GPL is a good benchmark....with 5-6 months of league spread over the state....MB/EB will attract good crowds in the districts with or without Sony /katsumi etc....
It is upto the clubs and district associations to press for it. Infact MB/EB have the most to gain if they look beyond the derby....they can monitor the bench strength and potential new talents over a proper season....people like azhar would gain immensly playing 30 odd full matches in a competitive environment
The problems for having CFL Premier Division for a longer duration are too many. 1. Finance.....not only for Mohun Bagan, EB or MSC but for the remaining 8 clubs as well. A double legged league means 20 games for each team & in all probality 4 months time i.e. from say 3rd. week of July to 3rd. week of November (remember Durga Puja, closure of Maidan from 1st-15th. Oct). Thus the smaller clubs will have to spend a lot more but with no significant prize money for winning a match or final ranking...smaller clubs will be really hard pressed. Big 3 will also spend much more as they have to retain the players for the full season & not like these days when they can save money via ISL. 2. Matches will clash with ISL during Oct & Nov, which will create the old reason of postponement of CFL matches on account of non availability of adequate Police force. ISL matches will not have such problem.....as we all know. 3. Once CFL & ISL go together.....the attendance in ATK home games could cause serious concern to the ISL Officials & their television partner as supporters of the big 3 will be focussing on their respective teams. 4. If ATK plays in YBK then the 6 matches involving Mohun Bagan - EB & MSC will also be played there & Mohun Bagan v EB may have 75k, EB-MSC & Mohun Bagan-MSC could have atleast 35-40k & ATK matches may have much much less at the same venue. Will the IFA President who is also V-P in AIFF agree to all these...... inviting strong punishment from Controlling Body ? I doubt. So we are to bear with a "naam ka waste" type 4-5 weeks long League. Whatever it is we just can not do anything which may hamper smooth running of a very important 3 m long Football Festival.
Comments
Teams can register 3 foreigners while 2 can be fielded. Mandatory U23 player reduced from 2 to 1 but a team must have one U23 player fielded at all times. Also all teams in premier division must have U18 squads except Army XI.
IFA can schedule a proper league running for 4-5 months with all the other teams not playing in either I-League or ISL..these teams can play the final leg with lesser time..cant understand what's stopping them.. this is actually killing football in our state. maybe the cost factor is there, but we used to have a proper structure earlier.
When there was neither any national/I-league/ISL, Kolkata did have a very strong league which lasted for almost 7-8 months (during the 70 and even 80s). I believe it was because of this structure that Indian team performed so well during that time. lesser known teams outside the big 3 used to churn out such good players(someone like PK Banerjee never played for any top team), and the league was extremely tough...
With Indian pan leagues, instead of copying or emulating such structure with a professional approach, we have killed such existing structure and also current commotion in Indian football without proper though process being applied.. Why am I saying the same thing again..
Anyway..I read in articles how tough the league was, and how people used to flock to the stadiums. even heard stories that men after their family members' (even own son) funeral, still used to go visit the games. Heard stories about all night being in queue to get a ticket in the morning hours..All those are history- thanks to all associated with the game.
1. Finance.....not only for Mohun Bagan, EB or MSC but for the remaining 8 clubs as well. A double legged league means 20 games for each team & in all probality 4 months time i.e. from say 3rd. week of July to 3rd. week of November (remember Durga Puja, closure of Maidan from 1st-15th. Oct). Thus the smaller clubs will have to spend a lot more but with no significant prize money for winning a match or final ranking...smaller clubs will be really hard pressed. Big 3 will also spend much more as they have to retain the players for the full season & not like these days when they can save money via ISL.
2. Matches will clash with ISL during Oct & Nov, which will create the old reason of postponement of CFL matches on account of non availability of adequate Police force. ISL matches will not have such problem.....as we all know.
3. Once CFL & ISL go together.....the attendance in ATK home games could cause serious concern to the ISL Officials & their television partner as supporters of the big 3 will be focussing on their respective teams.
4. If ATK plays in YBK then the 6 matches involving Mohun Bagan - EB & MSC will also be played there & Mohun Bagan v EB may have 75k, EB-MSC & Mohun Bagan-MSC could have atleast 35-40k & ATK matches may have much much less at the same venue.
Will the IFA President who is also V-P in AIFF agree to all these...... inviting strong punishment from Controlling Body ?
I doubt. So we are to bear with a "naam ka waste" type 4-5 weeks long League.
Whatever it is we just can not do anything which may hamper smooth running of a very important 3 m long Football Festival.
So this league is titled sponsored by JSW Group... take that for what you will guys