I-League 2023-2024: New Teams, Renewed Ambitions

thebeautifulgame

The 2023-24 I-League season will have 13 clubs--Gokulam Kerala FC, Churchill Brothers, Mohammedan Sporting, Real Kashmir FC, Aizawl FC, Neroca FC, TRAU FC, Delhi FC, Rajasthan United FC, Shillong Lajong, Sreenidi Deccan FC, Inter Kashi and Namdhari FC in action, one more than that last season, playing across 10 venues on a home-and-away double round-robin basis. Three clubs will be plying their trade for the first time ever, together with one club that return to the league after a gap of four seasons. Shillong Lajong FC, who have entertained Indian Football fans in the past, are now back once again, having won the Second Division League last season, and will be joined by Delhi Football Club, who finished behind them in the third tier of Indian Football. Two other debutants are corporate entries into the league as it looks to spread the game across newer territories–Inter Kashi from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and Namdhari Sports Academy in Sri Bhaini Sahib, Punjab. The tournament will have 156 matches played throughout the season, with each team playing 24 games. The club finishing at the top of the table at the end of the league will be declared champion and will be eligible for promotion to the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 provided it fulfils the club-licensing criteria. Last season’s champion Punjab FC (formerly called RoundGlass Punjab FC) has already been promoted to the ISL.The tournament will be telecast live on Eurosport TV channel and Fancode will live stream the same.

While the new entrants into the league look to find their footing, the traditional heavyweights like Gokulam Kerala, Sreenidi Deccan, Churchill Brothers and Mohammedan Sporting are all set for the big jostle that would ultimately lead to promotion to the Indian Super League for one team. The Malabarians, two-time champions, have made their intent clear with signings like Barcelona Academy product Nili Perdomo, and Tajikistan international Komron Tursunov to bolster the attack, while experienced heads like Salam Ranajan Singh and former Indian international Anas Edathodika will strengthen the back line. Sreenidi Deccan have roped in midfielder Ibrahim Sissoko of Côte d’Ivoire, who has experience playing in Germany, Spain and Portugal, a signing that is expected to bridge their strong defensive and attacking units. Mohammedan Sporting, on the other hand, have brought in Honduras international Eddie Hernandez to strengthen their attack. However, the presence of local talent David Lalhlansanga could also prove to be an exciting prospect. The 21-year-old forward shone for the Black and White Brigade in the Durand Cup this season, ending as the joint highest scorer of the tournament with six goals to his name. The other clubs too would be no pushovers.

With so many strong past champions and some teams with even stronger ambitions, the I-League promises to be a humdinger!

This thread is to discuss all activities--team news, I-League matches , post-match analysis--except those related to transfer.

Credits: sportstar.thehindu.com, khelnow.com, news18.com

thebeautifulgame

Sorry guys for the copy-paste job

Nagendra

I hope Shillong Lajong stays up. They need to stick with their local players along with signing good foreigners . When they were in I League,  we used to see lot of young player's from Meghalaya. Now most of the N.E players are from Manipur & Mizoram. To have bigger pool of players,  we need clubs from all regions,  especially U.P, Punjab,  Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra & Meghalaya. 

thebeautifulgame

Shillong Lajong defeated table toppers Gokulam Kerala  3-1, Sreenidi Deccan walloped TRAU 5-0 yesterday

thebeautifulgame

Mohammedan SC go to the top of the table beating Inter Kashi 2-0, Aizawl FC thumped Namdhari FC 3-0

thebeautifulgame

https://twitter.com/90ndstoppage/status/1726890600291877325

Shameful of FSDL and (their master's voice) AIFF!!

thebeautifulgame

Shillong Lajong beat Delhi FC 2-1, Phrangki Buam was one of the goalscorers.

Churchill Brothers thrashed TRAU FC 4-0

thebeautifulgame

https://twitter.com/90ndstoppage/status/1727339986218037294

What a goal by Phrangki Buam...reminded me of Van Basten's zero degree goal in 1988!

thebeautifulgame

pos	team	p	w	d	l	pts	gf	ga	gd
1	Mohammedan SC	6	5	1	0	16	15	4	11
2	Sreenidi Deccan FC	5	3	1	1	10	16	5	11
3	Gokulam Kerala FC	5	3	1	1	10	14	6	8
4	Shillong Lajong FC	5	2	3	0	9	9	6	3
5	Aizawl FC	5	3	0	2	9	10	9	1
6	Delhi FC	5	2	1	2	7	12	9	3
7	Inter Kashi	5	2	1	2	7	9	11	-2
8	Real Kashmir FC	4	2	0	2	6	4	4	0
9	Churchill Brothers	4	1	1	2	4	4	5	-1
10	Namdhari FC	5	1	1	3	4	4	9	-5
11	NEROCA FC	5	1	1	3	4	5	13	-8
12	Rajasthan United FC	5	1	0	4	3	6	13	-7
13	TRAU FC	5	0	1	4	1	1	15	-14

https://theawayend.co/i-league/

thebeautifulgame

Mohammedan SC are on the top of the table, but their next two matches are against formidable Sreenidi Deccan and Gokulam Kerala, and their Argentinian forward, Alexis Gomez, and Uzbekistan midfielder, Mirjalol Kasimov, being suspended, they might have to cope with some potentially tricky situations hereafter.

Interesting that Shillong Lajong are the only team, apart from MSC, who are undefeated till now; having drawn with MSC and Sreenidi Deccan, and what is even more remarkable, they have been the only side to have defeated the two-times champion, Gokulam Kerala, in the league so far!

thebeautifulgame

https://twitter.com/MarcusMergulhao/status/1727740053034832010