NEW DELHI: All India Football Federation President Praful Patel feels that the Indian Super League, scheduled to kick-off in September, will “kick-start a new era” for Indian football.
“FIFA says the game needs to be commercialised. I am keenly looking forward to the Indian Super League, which I believe will bring in commercial value to the sport in the country,” he said at an elite gathering in Mumbai.
Owners and representatives from all the Indian Super League franchises including Sachin Tendulkar and Bollywood actor John Abraham were present at the gathering.
“Dynamic days are ahead for Indian football,” Patel, under whose leadership India successfully bid for hosting the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup, said. “We will be playing host to the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup. But it’s pertinent the momentum needs to be sustained,” he opined.
“Keeping it in mind, we are now bidding for the two successive editions of the Club World Cup in 2017 and 2018. If we are successful, the respective I-League champions of the two editions will get a chance to rub shoulders with the best of the World,” he pronounced. (Agencies)