I-League: Finally to kick-off

The I-League, India's professional football league, is finally set to kick-off tomorrow across the country after having been delayed by over two month's due to the Delhi Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, and then the problem with TV rights and sponsorship. But though there are loads of problems off the field, lets focus on the football and there we are in for a very interesting season.

First there are 30 players missing from the I-League squads, who are part of the Team India probables for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in January 2011. Some teams are more hit then others as champions Dempo SC miss a number of regulars, Churchill Brothers miss their key defender Gouramangi Singh, other clubs have players missing until January.

The clubs are ready for the fourth edition of the I-League to finally kick-off tomorrow. And most of the teams have invested heavily in their squads with some clubs having record budgets of upto Rupees 130 Million (Rs. 13 crores) this season. The clubs have been busy with local leagues, played the Federation Cup, also played in invitational tournaments like the Durand Cup to prepare and set their teams.


But who are the favourites???

Well, we come to the usual suspects and those who could cause an upset. The Goan biggies of Dempo SC and Churchill Brothers SC, the Kolkata Maidan giants of East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, and maybe outside chances for a strengthened Salgaocar SC, last years surprise package Pune FC and the leagues dark horses Chirag United SC, who won their first national title in Durand Cup.

But after last nights Super Cup performance surely defending champions Dempo SC will be the first title contenders. Still East Bengal under new coach Trevor Morgan are a potential threat to the Goans, while other sides will have to prove their strength in the long running league.


And who are the candidates to go down???

One will have to mention the promoted sides Bangalore's HAL and Mumbai's ONGC, both teams of PSU's who are having difficulties to fulfill the club licencing criteria. Then there is the AIFF XI, the India Under-20 national side, who will debut in this seasons I-League. Most of the boys are still teenagers so the league will be a real test. The question which the AIFF couldn't answer is what happens if the AIFF XI is relegated? Will they stay in the league and someone go down or is the team shut down.

Others who could be involved in the fight for survival are Mumbai FC, Viva Kerala and JCT where one isn't sure how strong or weak these sides really are.


Matches in Round 1
03-Dec-2010: Pune FC - Mohun Bagan AC
03-Dec-2010: Chirag United SC - AIFF XI
03-Dec-2010: JCT - HAL, Bangalore
03-Dec-2010: Mumbai FC - Air India
03-Dec-2010: Viva Kerala - Salgaocar SC
04-Dec-2010: Churchill Brothers SC - Dempo SC
04-Dec-2010: East Bengal Club - ONGC