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Remember the goal scoring prowess of Hernan Crespo and Robbie Fowler, or the mesmerizing wing play by Robert Pires, or that image of lifting the World Cup for Italy by former world player of the year, Fabio Cannavaro? Well, stop dreaming and prepare yourself in a chance of a lifetime, as you can see them playing live in a football stadium in India! As reported earlier, World Cup footballers — including stars like Robert Pires, Hernan Crespo and Robbie Fowler – will feature in the inaugural season of PLS (Premier League Soccer) this year, in what is possibly Indian football’s biggest coup, even possibly overshadowing Messi’s one-time arrival.
Today, IFA (Indian Football Association) and Celebrity Management Group met and launched the Tender Documents to award the six Franchisees for the proposed seven weeks premier league soccer. Kolkata, Barasat, Durgapur, Haldia, Howrah and Shiliguri are the assigned locations for the Franchisees to choose for the next ten years, with each locations having a base price for the auction – Kolkata & Siliguri is Rs. 1 crore per year, Barasat at Rs. 80 lakhs per year and for Haldia & Durgapur, Rs. 70 lakhs per year. Any group or corporate owners, with a combined net worth of 5 million USD or with an annual turnover of 10.00 million USD during each last three years may bid for a PLS Franchisee. They must build their teams within a limit of 12.5 crore INR.
Argentine goal scoring legend, Hernan Crespo
Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), Juan Pablo Sorin (Argentina), Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria), Robert Pires (France), Robbie Fowler (England), Hernan Crespo (Argentina) and Mari Anthes (Spain) are listed as ‘icons’ and each of them will lead a team in the PLS. Each team will be monitored and trained under eminent coaches,which includes Peter Reid (England), John Barnes (England), Samson Siasia (Nigeria), Marco Etcheverry, Colin Todd (England), Teitur Thodarson (Canada) and Milos Rus (Slovakia).
Each team will be comprised of 4 foreign players, 6 under 21 players, 6 catch mate players (Domicile players), and 14 other Indian players. The matches will be played from Wednesday to Sunday (excluding Friday), under both floodlights and daylight. The tournament will most likely to commence from 25th February.
Mr.Bhaswar Goswami, Executive Director of Celebrity management group has said that the paperworks have been submitted in Zurich at FIFA, and got the recognition of Sepp Blatter, who reportedly showed great interest in PLS.
