The difference between CMG & IMG-R is patience.. CMG has lost their patience after successfully organsing the Interntl. frndly between Argentina-Venezuela.. While IMG-R is inspecting the whole scenario of Indian football and still drafting the plans and they are yet to draw on papers.. The good thing is the deal with IMG-R has forced AIFF to work on Youth development and setting up regional academies(thnx to FIFA).The AFC club licensing criteria has help to improve the infrastructure(playing turf & stadium to some extent). IMG-R look very patience and r taking the steps slowly which results in telecast of I-league and few Intl friendlies of Indian NT.
Talking abt PLS,with some addition of World class players and coaches, infrastrucure in Bengal will decide which way this tournament will go.. Big challenges lie ahead for CMG to make this league a long term league.. Its high time for IMG-R to b calm and analyse the tournament.. If PLS works and promised to b long term league then well & good, it will help IMG-R to take the steps quickly.. if not then IMG-R should learn from the mistakes of CMG and stick to their own plan as IMG-R has to serve Indian football for 13 more years & make a way for future.. AIFF and state FA has to keep these event managing companies like PLS etc. restricted for states & local leagues and not allow to interfere at higher level.
Suraj, you are right in saying that the approach of IMG-R is watchful and they are taking time analyze and redefine the fate of I-league because they are patient and have huge plans. Also PLS is a short term money making scheme which is not bad. But if proven successful in the 1st year, CMG has plans to develop the home stadiums of various teams in partnership with the franchisee and the sponsors. This will mean additional 6-8 quality stadiums in and around Kolkata. This creates a possibility for representing oneself as a host for age-group FIFA or AFC tourneys as well as breeding ground for football talents as we must know there are hardly any quality grounds for youngsters to train. The clash between IMG-R and PLS is still a faraway thing. This is mainly because Indian football is not yet a hot property to be fought over. IMG-R would rather take it as case study. Furthermore, PLS is a short-calendar game with fancy names and I doubt it can be successful beyond NE and Bengal.
As far as the AIFF is concerned, they would grab every opportunity that comes its way which allows them to upgrade the infrastructure for free and also fill their coffers.
PLS is most welcome! <!-- s:handgestures-thumbup: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/handgestures/thumbup.gif" alt=":handgestures-thumbup:" title="Thumb Up" /><!-- s:handgestures-thumbup: -->
This creates a possibility for representing oneself as a host for age-group FIFA or AFC tourneys as well as breeding ground for football talents as we must know there are hardly any quality grounds for youngsters to train.! <!-- s:handgestures-thumbup: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/handgestures/thumbup.gif" alt=":handgestures-thumbup:" title="Thumb Up" /><!-- s:handgestures-thumbup: -->
Suraj, you are right in saying that the approach of IMG-R is watchful and they are taking time analyze and redefine the fate of I-league because they are patient and have huge plans. Also PLS is a short term money making scheme which is not bad. But if proven successful in the 1st year, CMG has plans to develop the home stadiums of various teams in partnership with the franchisee and the sponsors. This will mean additional 6-8 quality stadiums in and around Kolkata. This creates a possibility for representing oneself as a host for age-group FIFA or AFC tourneys as well as breeding ground for football talents as we must know there are hardly any quality grounds for youngsters to train. The clash between IMG-R and PLS is still a faraway thing. This is mainly because Indian football is not yet a hot property to be fought over. IMG-R would rather take it as case study. Furthermore, PLS is a short-calendar game with fancy names and I doubt it can be successful beyond NE and Bengal.
As far as the AIFF is concerned, they would grab every opportunity that comes its way which allows them to upgrade the infrastructure for free and also fill their coffers.
PLS is most welcome! <!-- s:handgestures-thumbup: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/handgestures/thumbup.gif" alt=":handgestures-thumbup:" title="Thumb Up" /><!-- s:handgestures-thumbup: -->
1) The PLS wont go to NE in my opinion. Actually I think the NEPL will be more successful. Sure the star players in the PLS will gain a crowd but the NEPL will draw much bigger crowds.
2) The better stadiums would be great for the AIFF as well. Hope this could include bucket seats as well in stadiums. People think the main problem is grass yet neglect that fans have to sit on stone.
3) IMG-Relience and CMG will eventually go into a 1960s American Soccer event in which two leagues wanted to become the number 1 league and in the end both leagues merged into one. I see that happening soon.
let the league first gain some stability in 3-4 years time then shall we talk about the expansion of the league beyond bengal to india by next deacade then shall think about making it reach abroad...
actually i am not a big fan of this league,which is very short and might seriously affect the players playing ability when they will be travelling very frequently...and eventually might affect the performance of players and thus may affect the quality of the game and infrastructure is almost negligible considering the stars on the field
What is PLS doing. They are going to turn into a second version of the I-League and the Now-Defunct North American Soccer League (United States).
They are going to be a second I-League because they will again only have teams in Goa, Kerala, West Bengal, NE of India, and Punjab (maybe Maha) same as I-League today and they will be another North American Soccer League because they are going to over expand. 6 teams in West Bengal, maybe 6 teams in Goa and Kolkata, 6 in Punjab and 10 in NE would mean 34 clubs in PLS. That is way to many clubs in a few states which would mean money being lost every season and eventually the league would fail. Just like the NASL in America, they over expanded and despite having guys like Pele, Franz Beckenbaur and George Best they folded.
pitch looks good BUT what about the pitch in the long term, how far the stands are from the pitch, how many seats, how many actual bucket seats, bathrooms, locker rooms, TV rooms, hospitality etc.
I dont get why football organizers in India and mainly AIFF and CMG think that once a stadium has a proper pitch then you are done. NO! There is still much to do. For example, the Salt Lake Stadium is still in need of help. Needs more bucket seats.
That is why I think the Balewadi Stadium and soon to be Cooperage Ground are the BEST stadiums in India. Not because of the pitch, there pitches are/will be great but they do/will have all the things I mentioned above and they are still developing. We are not done yet. Football renovations dont stop at the pitch.
Comments
Talking abt PLS,with some addition of World class players and coaches, infrastrucure in Bengal will decide which way this tournament will go.. Big challenges lie ahead for CMG to make this league a long term league.. Its high time for IMG-R to b calm and analyse the tournament.. If PLS works and promised to b long term league then well & good, it will help IMG-R to take the steps quickly.. if not then IMG-R should learn from the mistakes of CMG and stick to their own plan as IMG-R has to serve Indian football for 13 more years & make a way for future.. AIFF and state FA has to keep these event managing companies like PLS etc. restricted for states & local leagues and not allow to interfere at higher level.
As far as the AIFF is concerned, they would grab every opportunity that comes its way which allows them to upgrade the infrastructure for free and also fill their coffers.
PLS is most welcome! <!-- s:handgestures-thumbup: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/handgestures/thumbup.gif" alt=":handgestures-thumbup:" title="Thumb Up" /><!-- s:handgestures-thumbup: -->
1) The PLS wont go to NE in my opinion. Actually I think the NEPL will be more successful. Sure the star players in the PLS will gain a crowd but the NEPL will draw much bigger crowds.
2) The better stadiums would be great for the AIFF as well. Hope this could include bucket seats as well in stadiums. People think the main problem is grass yet neglect that fans have to sit on stone.
3) IMG-Relience and CMG will eventually go into a 1960s American Soccer event in which two leagues wanted to become the number 1 league and in the end both leagues merged into one. I see that happening soon.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.espnstar.com/editorial/news/detail/item742255/Fink:-PLS-should-take-in-SEA/"; onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.espnstar.com/editorial/news/ ... ke-in-SEA/</a><!-- m -->
actually i am not a big fan of this league,which is very short and might seriously affect the players playing ability when they will be travelling very frequently...and eventually might affect the performance of players and thus may affect the quality of the game and infrastructure is almost negligible considering the stars on the field
They are going to be a second I-League because they will again only have teams in Goa, Kerala, West Bengal, NE of India, and Punjab (maybe Maha) same as I-League today and they will be another North American Soccer League because they are going to over expand. 6 teams in West Bengal, maybe 6 teams in Goa and Kolkata, 6 in Punjab and 10 in NE would mean 34 clubs in PLS. That is way to many clubs in a few states which would mean money being lost every season and eventually the league would fail. Just like the NASL in America, they over expanded and despite having guys like Pele, Franz Beckenbaur and George Best they folded.
Barasat is having a good stadium.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.kolkatafootball.com/indiafootball_news_2012/jan31stpart_2012.html#pls_barasat"; onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.kolkatafootball.com/indiafoo ... ls_barasat</a><!-- m -->" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
pitch looks good BUT what about the pitch in the long term, how far the stands are from the pitch, how many seats, how many actual bucket seats, bathrooms, locker rooms, TV rooms, hospitality etc.
I dont get why football organizers in India and mainly AIFF and CMG think that once a stadium has a proper pitch then you are done. NO! There is still much to do. For example, the Salt Lake Stadium is still in need of help. Needs more bucket seats.
That is why I think the Balewadi Stadium and soon to be Cooperage Ground are the BEST stadiums in India. Not because of the pitch, there pitches are/will be great but they do/will have all the things I mentioned above and they are still developing. We are not done yet. Football renovations dont stop at the pitch.