Participating clubs get lessons in I-League seminar

Nov 13: All the representatives of the participating clubs and state associations, who have been selected for the matches of the upcoming I-League, were trained with diverse presentations relating to the nuances of various aspects concerning the league in a day-long seminar conducted by All India Football Federation (AIFF) here on Monday.

The inaugural Indian Professional National Football League (I-League) is scheduled to kick-off on November 24 at the Nehru stadium Fatorda, Margao in Goa.

Various presentations were made for the members in attendance on a range of topics regarding the Rules and Regulations of the I-League, National Team development and its alignment with the I-League, Marketing & Media aspects, Club Licensing policies, Refereeing matters, Event Management and Scheduling for the I-League.

AIFF, General Secretary, Alberto Colaco, Chief Coach Bob Houghton, Anil Kamat (Asst. Director–Competitions), Satyajit Sadanandan (Director–Projects), Anthony John D’Costa (AFC Referees Instructor) and Satish Menon of Zee Sports carried out special sessions touching these topics, which are very important to understand for all the participating members of the club prior to the commencement of this foundational mega-event.

Joaquim Alemao, President of Goa Football Association and Urban Development Minister, Govt. of Goa inaugurated the seminar. Shivanand Salgaocar, AIFF Treasurer was also present on the occasion.

The representatives of the following clubs participated in the seminar Air India (Mumbai), Churchill Brothers (Goa), Dempo Sports Club (Goa), JCT Phagwara (Punjab), Kingfisher East Bengal (Kolkata), Mahindra United (Mumbai), McDowells Mohun Bagan (Kolkata), Salgaocar Sports Club (Goa), Sporting Clube de Goa (Goa) and Viva Kerala (Kerala). The participant state associations attended the seminar, which will be going to host the matches, were IFA (Bengal), GFA (Goa), KFA (Kerala), PFA (Punjab) and WIFA (Maharashtra).

There is also a possibility that AIFF is going to hike the prize money to Rs 50 lakh for the winners, since the inaugural edition of the National Football League (NFL) in 1996, the winners have pocketed Rs 40 lakh while the runners-up have settled for Rs 22 lakh.

The prize money for every game is also likely to be increased. However, an ultimate decision will only come out in the executive committee meeting, which is to be held in Delhi on Friday this week.

The participating clubs also got a sigh of relief after they were informed that a direct red card in an NFL tie, which normally results in the player being banned for two matches, will now have only one match suspension.

Meanwhile there is a buzz in the air that bollywood superstar and currently ‘Chak De India’ fame Shahrukh Khan will be coming to inaugurate the event. His presence will certainly going to attract common men attention towards the game of football.