ISL: How it has revolutionized Indian football

Indian super league or better known as Hero Indian super league is one of the professional football leagues in India that was contested by 8 teams in its inaugural version. After the success of IPL, similar format has been followed to commercialize other sports namely, hockey, kabbadi and football. As a market in sports a country of 1.25 billion provides enormous potential but it was as we know a ‘dormant’ scenario with neither the Indian national football team nor the leagues providing a base for the sport to boom. India is predominantly a cricket loving country with huge viewership across the nation. So the question for the ages was how to awaken the footballing spirit this country possesses? The answer to the scenario was quite simple. Commercialize it!

On December 9^th 2010, All India Football Federation signed a 700-crore deal with Reliance Industries and the International Management group of the United States and thus started the dormant volcano to rise from its sleep. Fast forward to 20^th December 2014 and India witnessed a mammoth sporting event come to conclusion bested only by the ratings of its godfather the IPL.

International football stars were brought in as ‘marquee’ players for the franchise teams and starred in every other commercial for the brand as a whole. The icing on the cake was when Del Piero, a FIFA world cup winner with Italy donned a Hindi accent and exclaimed “Ye diwali football wali”. 
Frankly why would a football crazy country not love their idols play for their respective state teams. It was heart-warming as a football lover to witness the country come together and enjoy the sport. Talking on footballing terms, the beautiful game has been accessorised to be more ‘beautiful’ with the quality of pitches across Europe and the Americas. Although nowhere near the international level, the pitch condition of the Indian stadiums has improved drastically because of ISL. 
The management has welcomed constructive ideas for the betterment of Indian football across all dimensions, from the coaching staff to the physio team to the guards.

Major European clubs has now recognised India as a potential market evident from the fact that clubs are setting up youth camps in our country. Manchester City Fc, a major British football club has set up a camp in Kolkata. Atletico Madrid, a Spanish club that plays in first division Spanish league has partnered up with the Kolkata ISL franchise and thus the name Atletico De Kolkata. They have promised to provide the Kolkata franchise with coaching techniques.

As the saying goes, everything has a beginning, and certainly ISL has elevated India to the footballing world with bringing in proven world class talents and marketing the sport to the common household who might not have had that level of excitement for the sport prior to the tournament.

SUBHASHIS MITRA
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