Foreign feet in I-League

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) may have rechristened the National Football League as I-League but make no mistake; it's an old trick in a new hat. As the NFL (or should we say I-League?), which is into its 12 year, is yet to take on a pan-Indian hue; it perhaps needed a new gimmick or two to revive the dwindling interest in the competition.For all its novelty, the I-League will still feature eight teams from just three states (Bengal Maharashtra and Goa) with Punjab and Kerala lending some much-needed variety to the competition's fabric. But expect the same unprofessional approach from the organisers and the clubs even though I-League's avowed aim is to give Indian football "a new dawn, a new hope."
It was much the same in 1996 when the NFL was launched. While no one can deny a few positives emerging out of the NFL, it is by an large true that the country's premier football tournament has failed to evolve into a truly spectacular event. The fringe benefits have mostly been derived by a handful of teams, especially those from Goa. Long bullied by Kolkata's 'Big Two', the Goan clubs have, slowly but surely, come into their own and it's time now for other teams to play the catch-up game with them.
Churchill Brothers, Salgaocar, Dempo Sports Club and Sporting Clube de Goa are now dictating terms in national football and Kolkata's glamour outfits Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are feeling the heat. The foreigners' issue, so critical to a team's success in the NFL, continues to be shabbily handled by the AIFF. The manner in which the top clubs bullied the parent body into sanctioning a fourth foreign player per team (only three can play in a game), says a lot. So, in all likelihood, the inaugural I-League will be won by the team which has filled up its foreign quota wisely.
Be it signing up foreign recruits or promoting home-bred players, the Goans have clearly stolen a march over the others. Okolie Odafe, Beto and Edeh Chidi's first brush with Indian club football was in Kolkata, but they clearly didn't relish the pressure-cooker-like existence there, nor the murky maidan politics and moved to Goa where they not only got a new lease of life, but also thrived. Odafe is in irresistible form this season. With 11 goals in four Durand Cup matches, he single-handedly led Churchill's charge in the competition. One can surely expect more fireworks from this rampaging Nigerian in the I-League. For the record, he was also the highest scorer in the last edition of the NFL. The clubs will no doubt fall over themselves to sign up another big-bodied foreigner whose brawn will come in handy when the league reaches its business end.
The talking point of the I-League could be the arrival of new talent on the big stage. Last season saw the reincarnation of Sunil Chhetri, the precocious talent of PC Lalampuiya and the collective brilliance of Churchill's TFA graduates. While Chhetri has gone from strength to strength, Lalampuiya is expected to fire on all cylinders for Mohun Bagan.
Talking about youngsters, keep an eye on two young goalkeepers from Kolkata - Subrata Pal under the East Bengal bar and Mohun Bagan's Shilton Paul. Both are young, dynamic and fearless. Given the wobbly defence of both teams, the duo will have to transact brisk business at the either end. If you are an old-fashioned football fan and want to enjoy a good game of soccer, watch-out for the Bhaichung-Barreto jugalbandi, for they are currently on a song. If they remain injury-free, expect them to terrorise rival defences and lead Bagan's charge towards a fourth title. But wait, Bhutia and Co will be away on national duty for nearly six weeks when the I-League takes a forced break. Then the script could go ulta-pulta, thanks to another piece of inept scheduling by the AIFF. So, what's new then? Well, we warned you the I-League is an old trick off a new hat.