Indian super league: Is ISL the answer to India's soccer woes?

One great thing about ISL is that it attracts a huge crowd and brings those people into the stadium who don’t even have the slightest idea of how football works. It has succeeded in garnering interest from all and putting football on the Indian sporting map in spite of us being a cricket crazy nation. It brings to light the relatively unknown Indian players and also puts some money in their pockets.

Yes, money is flowing into the Indian football ecosystem, yes Indian football has started getting some media attention but the question remains "Is ISL the answer to India's soccer woes?"

Having said that, I am not a fan of how the entire thing is projected as a Bollywood movie of sorts. This is a great turn off for all those fans who have been passionately watching football all their lives. What’s more cringeworthy than watching the cameras panning into celebrities every n0w and then? Nothing is bigger than the game and as long as ISL does well to remember it, it’ll do just fine. For starters ISL can take cue from the I League clubs like Bengaluru FC, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, learn from their fan culture, get a basic understanding of how football culture works and incorporate some of those elements so that the heart and soul of Indian football is not compromised with.

Now coming to the question about helping Indian football community, I haven't read much about it. IMG-RELIANCE was supposed to improve the standards of I- League. If they did anything for this, the results are not visible. The I-League Clubs are on their own when it comes to running their teams and grass root programs. If we leave Corporate teams like Bengaluru FC, Pune FC, Bharat FC other clubs are finding it tough to remain afloat. IMG-RELIANCE were supposed to change all this. Well, not much has changed in this context.

The only 2 teams who are already winners for me in ISL is NorthEast United FC and FC Goa who have kept grassroot development as prime motive. They have got players from their own community and what they are building is bigger powerhouse for Indian Football. Big shout out to Larsing Ming and Srinivas Dempo.

ISL might help with the awareness but won't help with the genuine motivation that is needed. Got nothing against ISL but it's not the solution. It's just some rich people trying to emulate the EPL or as for Ranbir , "La Liga".

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