The 11th edition of the Hero I-League was officially launched here on Tuesday and, to be played over three months, will run parallel to the more glamorous Indian Super League as the two competitions battle for primacy in Indian football.
With three new teams from as many states being added to the fray — Gokulam Kerala FC, 2nd division champion Neroca FC and Indian Arrows, the official development side of the AIFF — the 2017-18 season would be played in 10 states across the country including a return to the national capital that has never featured a side in the premier competition.
And, along with Delhi’s return to the fixtures in I-League, the presence of Indian Arrows — made up of India Under-17 and Under-19 players — also meant that coach Luis Norton De Matos would continue to helm the group of Indian youngsters after their impressive show in the Under-17 World Cup.
“His (De Matos) contract is till the end of I-League. Then we will see and discuss,” AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said on the sidelines of the launch.
The prize money has also been enhanced — the winner’s purse would be ₹1 crore with the runner-up getting ₹60 lakh.
But sharing the same official broadcaster as the ISL — Star Sports — it remains to be seen how much traction both the AIFF and the broadcaster manage for the I-League, specially given the fact that a way out to merge the two leagues in the coming years remains unresolved.
Already there are murmurs about lack of promotion and poor scheduling with Minerva owner Ranjit Bajaj even taking to the social media to complain about the same. Most of the players shared his sentiment.
Constantine to continue?
Asked about reports of rift between national coach Stephen Constantine and some players, Das indicated that results had to count for something.
India has had an unbeaten 13-match streak under Constantine including qualification for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
“It will be a decision of the technical committee (in March 2018) but going by his performance and results, I don’t see any reason why he should not be continued.
“I don’t think there is any serious rift. I think it is probably a bit made up, may be he has had a bit of difference with some of the players but not a major issue,” Das said.
The I-League would run from November 25 till March 6, 2018 with the first match of the season played between Minerva Punjab and Mohun Bagan in Ludhiana on November 25.
The teams:
Aizawl FC (Mizoram, defending champion), Neroca FC (Manipur), Shillong Lajong FC (Meghalaya), Mohun Bagan AC and Kingfisher East Bengal (Bengal), Minerva Punjab (Punjab), Gokulam Kerala FC (Kerala), Churchill Brothers FC Goa (Goa), Indian Arrows (Delhi), Chennai City FC (Chennai).
