Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal need to put their complaints aside and do some "soul-searching" on why they have failed to attract the kind of investors needed to play in the more glamorous Indian Super League, AIFF General secretary Kushal Das said on Tuesday.
At the launch of the 10-team I-League, AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said that I-League, for this year, will remain the official league and its winner will qualify for the AFC Champions League. While Bagan and East Bengal have already failed AFC licensing criteria earlier this year, Das informed that it will not hamper their chances of playing the AFC Champions League, if they happen to win the I-League.
"They can (play AFC Champions League) but once they start participating, they have to fulfill the licensing the criteria. They will get some time to sort out the licensing issue," Das said at the launch of I-League. Asked if it's a setback that clubs with a legacy of over 100 years are not playing in the Indian Super League (ISL), Das urged the Kolkata giants to do some soul-searching.
Both the clubs have refused to pay the franchise fee needed to compete in the ISL, insisting that they should be included because of their history. "While they have a huge fan base, they also have to realise somehow there are no investors coming. They are finding it difficult to get sponsorships.
"So they have to introspect what is wrong? Why are clubs with such history and legacy fan following unable to get sponsorship and investment," Das gave a direct reply to a query about the two clubs with biggest fan base.
The AIFF top boss made it clear that it is the clubs that need to find an answer. "That's a question they will have to find an answer to. I am happy to help them but they will only have to find an answer," Das said.
One of the biggest reasons for sponsors and investors turning their backs to the clubs is the lack of long-term strategic planning. "I think the whole issue is to convince the sponsors about their strategic plan for next five years. This is where I want to be -- say after five years. Probably, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have not been able to do that," he reasoned.
When I hear such people pontificating, I am inevitably reminded of George Orwell who said that "Political language. . . is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."
They fulfill the National criteria to play AFC Cup if they qualify for 2019. No Indian club is playing in AFC Champions League. BFC and Aizawl FC will anyways play in AFC Cup 2018. ISL Franchises should do some soul-searching that why they do not satisfy even the National Criteria !!!
Ask Kushal das to make the i-league as separate entity(AFC Rule) and let the stake holders run the league not IMG-Rel slaves. rest will follow automatically. if AIFF have guts let them announce ISL as second division(if they want AFC cup) if AIFF have balls let them command for Fed cup , if ISL wants AFC representation let them play fed cup.
How new tournament will change everything when the base is wrong. first correct fundamental issues. then we will have stable club culture and league
NFL -- I-league -- ISL -- what else next ?
fed cup --- Super-cup -- what next ?
What will happen to ISL after the contract ? because it is privately owned for certain period.
Leave everything else, first find the solution for the stable and one league in India based on the AFC regulations not in the terms with IMG-R.
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http://www.news18.com/news/sports/despite-fan-base-bagan-eb-dont-get-investors-aiff-secy-1583743.html
Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal need to put their complaints aside and do some "soul-searching" on why they have failed to attract the kind of investors needed to play in the more glamorous Indian Super League, AIFF General secretary Kushal Das said on Tuesday.
At the launch of the 10-team I-League, AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said that I-League, for this year, will remain the official league and its winner will qualify for the AFC Champions League. While Bagan and East Bengal have already failed AFC licensing criteria earlier this year, Das informed that it will not hamper their chances of playing the AFC Champions League, if they happen to win the I-League.
"They can (play AFC Champions League) but once they start participating, they have to fulfill the licensing the criteria. They will get some time to sort out the licensing issue," Das said at the launch of I-League. Asked if it's a setback that clubs with a legacy of over 100 years are not playing in the Indian Super League (ISL), Das urged the Kolkata giants to do some soul-searching.
Both the clubs have refused to pay the franchise fee needed to compete in the ISL, insisting that they should be included because of their history. "While they have a huge fan base, they also have to realise somehow there are no investors coming. They are finding it difficult to get sponsorships.
"So they have to introspect what is wrong? Why are clubs with such history and legacy fan following unable to get sponsorship and investment," Das gave a direct reply to a query about the two clubs with biggest fan base.
The AIFF top boss made it clear that it is the clubs that need to find an answer. "That's a question they will have to find an answer to. I am happy to help them but they will only have to find an answer," Das said.
One of the biggest reasons for sponsors and investors turning their backs to the clubs is the lack of long-term strategic planning. "I think the whole issue is to convince the sponsors about their strategic plan for next five years. This is where I want to be -- say after five years. Probably, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have not been able to do that," he reasoned.
When I hear such people pontificating, I am inevitably reminded of George Orwell who said that "Political language. . . is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."
No Indian club is playing in AFC Champions League. BFC and Aizawl FC will anyways play in AFC Cup 2018.
ISL Franchises should do some soul-searching that why they do not satisfy even the National Criteria !!!
Hero I-league Launching Ceremony Live
if AIFF have guts let them announce ISL as second division(if they want AFC cup)
if AIFF have balls let them command for Fed cup , if ISL wants AFC representation let them play fed cup.
How new tournament will change everything when the base is wrong. first correct fundamental issues. then we will have stable club culture and league
NFL -- I-league -- ISL -- what else next ?
fed cup --- Super-cup -- what next ?
What will happen to ISL after the contract ? because it is privately owned for certain period.
Leave everything else, first find the solution for the stable and one league in India based on the AFC regulations not in the terms with IMG-R.