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In an attempt to create a source of revenue and at the same time not let the IPL-style football league, which AIFF’s commercial partners IMG-Reliance are proposing to host in January-February 2014, undermine the I-League, the I-League Professional Football Clubs’ Association (IPFCA) is planning to stage a tournament of their own early next year, Sportskeeda can reveal.
IPFCA intend to host the tournament around the same time when IMG-R’s new league is expected to kick off, so as to not undermine the importance of I-League clubs, and at the same time keep their players in competitive action. Because according to the Indian football calendar for the 2013-14 season, there will be no I-League matches while the IPL-style league is on.
IPFCA president and Salgaocar general secretary Raj Gomes told a local Bengali television channel on Sunday that they will soon be talking to the AIFF to get permission for this tournament and the issue is likely to be discussed in the organisation’s next meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday.
A source close to Sportskeeda informed that IPFCA are looking at this tournament as a source of revenue but at same time want to include hefty prize money.
All member teams of the IPFCA are expected to participate but interestingly not every club is still aware about the proposal of the new tournament. It was learnt that each member club was asked to send their agenda for Wednesday’s meeting by Saturday, June 1 and only after going through the recommendations of each club, a decision was supposed to be taken.
Pune FC head of operations and IPFCA general secretary Chirag Tanna refused to throw any further light on the tournament but told Sportskeeda that members of the organisation were looking at options to keep their teams competitive during the two and half month I-League break when the IPL-style league is expected to take place.
