NEW DELHI: The India Super League (ISL) will replace the I-League as top-tier competition in the country as per a proposal presented by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on domestic structural reforms in India.
The roadmap was formulated in a meeting of the I-League and ISL clubs with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and AFC officials in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) on Monday.
As per the roadmap, the ISL champion would also be entitled to a play-off place in the AFC Champions League and I-League champions would take a place in the AFC Cup in “a package that takes into consideration the recommendations of FIFA/AFC report of 2017”.
AIFF sides with ISL franchises
The recent ISL-I-League imbroglio had led to the intervention of AFC, with the Asian body had earlier asked AIFF for a clear cut road map for the next two seasons.
The AIFF tried to procrastinate as the concept of a unified league is now shelved. The solution offered was that for the next two seasons the ISL and I-League will be held simultaneously.
This compromise helps the AIFF salvage the situation as the AFC is not convinced that the ISL in its current form can be the premier league of the country.
The crisis has arisen because the AIFF has not been impartial in trying to resolve this dispute. Instead because of contractual obligations and financial benefits the AIFF is siding with the ISL franchises.
Apartheid in Indian football
A kind of apartheid system prevails in Indian football, with the I-League clubs feeling neglected and unwanted. Consequently, uncertainty prevails in the minds of the players and club officials.
Some of the consequences are disastrous. About 30 clubs have closed down from 2011-2019 and over 25 all-India tournaments have also shut shop in the last two decades. The players are also affected by this uncertainty and neglect.
Lanky central defender Salam Ranjan Singh played against Bahrain in India’s third group league match at the Asian Cup on January 14 this year. He was then representing East Bengal, but this season has opted for the Kolkata-based ISL franchise ATK to improve his chances of being regularly selected for the national team.
Ironically, he was not included in the Indian squad for both the 2nd Inter-Continental Cup in Ahmedabad in July and the World Cup qualifiers in September.
Uncertainty and neglect
Similarly, stocky striker Jobby Justin (in pic) excelled for East Bengal last season and got a call up for the national squad in the Inter-Continental Cup in Ahmedabad.
He played in all three matches against Tajikstan, North Korea and Syria.
Justin got desperate to join ATK and had a dispute with East Bengal over his contract. The Kerala-based Justin finally shifted to ATK as he felt that his international career would take off if he joined an ISL team.
Yet he was dropped from the squad in the World Cup Qualifiers vs Oman (September 5) and Qatar (September 10) as coach Igor Stimac preferred Manvir Singh for his work rate, ability to hold the ball and play with his back to the goal.
Imbroglio confuses players
Two seasons ago, agile goalkeeper Debjit Mazumdar shifted from Mohun Bagan to ATK as he felt it would help him fulfill his ambitions of playing for India.
Mazumdar was a regular in the Mohun Bagan playing XI and helped his club win the 8th I-League title in 2015 and Federation Cup in 2016.
He barely got a chance to play for ATK, his form stagnated and he has now returned to Bagan. Mazumdar did not realise that European coaches whether Stephen Constantine or Stimac prefer goalkeepers who are well over six feet tall.
Both Salaam and Justin could meet with a similar fate. They could be warming the bench or play as substitutes for the next few seasons and their form would decline.
Dashing winger Nikhil Poojary and right-back Rahul Bheke had outstanding seasons with East Bengal in 2016-17.
Yet Constantine ignored them for international matches. It is only when they shifted to the ISL that they got selected by Stimac for the national team this season.
National coaches select ISL players
The focus of the national coaches whether Constantine or Stimac is on the ISL. Stimac does admit that there are too many foreigners in the ISL especially in key positions and the pool of players from which he selects the national team is limited.
Stimac should have been allowed to witness the Durand tournament in August in Kolkata and should later watch I-League matches to unearth new talent. Players are also making wrong career choices because of subtle hints by agents that they should only opt for ISL franchises. This confusion prevails as the prevalent impression is that ultimately the AIFF will favour the ISL.
ISL stalled Indian coaches’ development
With the ISL franchises only opting for foreign coaches, the development of Indian coaches is also stalled.
Sanjoy Sen (in pic) was emerging as one of India’s most promising coaches in his four seasons with Bagan. He guided them to the 8th I-League title in 2015 and finished runners-up in 9th and 10th I-Leagues respectively.
During his tenure, Bagan also won the Federation Cup (now defunct) in 2016 and were runners up a year later. He then shifted to ATK as an assistant coach due to the lure of money (Rs 5 lakhs a month) but got no responsibility and is now languishing.
Santosh Kashyap finished his pro license degree (spending his own money) three seasons ago and was hailed as a promising coach. However, since 2017 he does not have any coaching assignment. His last stint was with the now defunct I-League club, Mumbai FC.
In a nutshell, young players, clubs and domestic tournaments have become victims of this prolonged dispute between the ISL and I-League clubs.
Difficult to say anything regarding this as Indian football is controlled by wrong people especially who haven’t played football at top level or rather only watched it only in television. Only time will show the way what is going to happen in real. As an audience we can only support the game as well as teams which have been supporting throughout the year.
Only Novy can write this kind of article. Very well thought write up. Thanks Novy
Mr. novy Kapadia understand what exactly required to save Indian football will pray for Indian football can’t comment’s
My request we wanted to know AIFF technical committee comments on both leauge status
Lovely analysis.
What can be done I want to have a career in India football . Does not look pleasant now
What’s the cost of AFC pro licence course in 2019?
Football is basically been sold to be highest bidder, with disastrous consequences on the long term. The aiff will not follow through with the promise of making it an open league before killing the I-League clubs. Very sad development indeed.
Football without its legacy isn’t football. Reminds me of the several episodes Mr Kapadia mentioned in his book ‘Barefoot to Boots’. Wiping out that legacy for commerce won’t reap any benefit for the game or for the commercial pursuit in the longer term!
Impartial people outside the system can all see what’s happening. But those in the system are blind to it.
Sports grow when they are adopted by the masses. They stagnate when only the elite few are allowed to play.
Agree with you on most of the points.
Hopefully we’ll see Indian Coaches in the mix in future and also some good attacking players leading rhe line and make a statement for National team selection.
Shutting of clubs is one of the main concerns and don’t how it’s going to stop as it is even happening in ISL just after 5 years.
Need more teams larger league and larger pool of players so that best can come out and play for the national team.
I tried my best to spread the message abt the issues in Indian Football. This is all simply unbelievable stuff really. Only in India do people kill the whole sport and get away with it.
Mr Novy gone through your excellent write-up very sad that’s bunch of joker’s now every where nobody serious about Development of Indian football i leage soul of India football
Isl Good marketing but tell without relegation isl organisation running and now orginal league teams mergers in isl
AFC become blind federation already making comfortable on footballer money. Aiff has lot people getting salary thier contribution nil
Thanks Novy ji u exposed aiff and afc
A very thought provoking article by Novy Kapadia. It shows that money matters more than merit in Indian football and how young players and even Indian coaches are getting affected by the dispute between ISL and I- league clubs leading to confused loyalties. Sadly there is no proper road map for Indian football by AIFF
ISL doesn’t represent football of whole nation. But player get selected from ISL team only is a wrong decision. I league has a definite structure which encourages local team to hunt talents and groom them. Moreover, a local club can play in 1st div by their performance only. In ISL, franchisee fee is the greatest obstacle for small & reputed clubs to participate in this tournament. So talents are not getting chances to show their skills and losing their form which is causing lack of supply.
AIFF is now a puppet only and serving interest of a pvt co only instead of well being of football. They are solely responsible for destroying the entire football structure of this nation.
Very well written and informative article