Indian Super League, the million-
dollar baby of IMG-Reliance, may turn to be a game changer for Indian football
as it is coming with huge potential. The star studded league, which will
commence on 12th October 2014, will offer unique opportunity to the
football fans of India to witness the prowess of legendary football icons including
Alessandro Del Piero, David James, David Trezeguet, Luis Garcia, Fredrik
Ljungberg, Robert Pirès, Nicolas Anelka. These legends will be joined by the
Indian stars who may not be equal in quality, but will surely match in
motivation. The list of the managers is equally attractive. Who can imagine that
legend like Zico to be associated with an Indian team? ISL has made it
possible. Kudos to the organizers!
Why should we talk only about the
players and the managers? The owners of the franchisees will bring money and
glamour to this mega event. Who is not
there in the list? The owners list contains eminent businessmen, prominent cricketers
and bollywood biggies. ISL will not be restricted to another football event,
but it will create a new concept of ‘footballtainment’.
Will it be a successful venture? The
success can be divided in terms of performance and commerce. The performance
will depend on how these retired or almost retired players will play and how
the Indian players will combine with them. However, looking at the teams, it
can be said that they are equally balanced which, according to the theory of
sports economics, will create ‘Uncertainty of Outcome’. This will definitely be
a blessing for the league.
The first year may not be a
financially joyful year for the organizers and the owners. It will take time to
reach at the ‘break-even’. The question is whether the check and balances will
motivate the corporate leaders to continue their investment, even if there will
be no return for quite some time.
We cannot predict the future! Let
us hope that this beautiful league will continue for long to entertain us. Countdown
has already begun! Let the game begin.
