DSK Shivajians unveil I-League team

PUNE: DSK Group formally unveiled their I-League football team - DSK Shivajians FC (DSFC) - as well as their players and team jersey during a slick launch here on Tuesday.
The upcoming season of the I-League starts on January 9.
The Shivajians, founded in 1987, were aiming for promotion from the Second Division this year, but accepted an invitation from the AIFF for a direct entry to the top tier of the national league.
The move came despite two city teams - Pune FC and debutants Bharat FC - shutting shop last year.
"We had invested in the infrastructure and the set-up. We had the first team in place, so the next logical step was to play in the premier league of the country," said Shirish Kulkarni, president of DSFC.
Apartment from the waiver of the registration fee, the All India Football Federation's assurance to help the national clubs in the promotion of the game played a key role in Kulkarni agreeing to fast-track him team to the I-League.
"I don't want to talk about it in terms of guarantees and promises (from the AIFF). I would like to say they have presented us a roadmap," he said.
"The talks have been fruitful. They have also realised that the I-League needs to be marketed, so they have agreed to contribute to the kitty for the promotion of the game.
"This is something that didn't exist before. I would be wrong to say it's going to be as big as the ISL, but it's a start."