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The Indian Super League is in its second season, and looking at its build-up and the start to the season, it’s safe to say the ISL has got even bigger and better from season one. Having attracted stars like Roberto Carlos to the ISL, it has made many football fans in India pinch themselves to confirm the reality.Many have called the advent of the Indian Super League as the awakening of the sleeping giant that India represents in the world of football, and so far the ISL has lived up to its hype. While changes can’t take place overnight, there are plenty of positives which the ISL has got on the horizon for Indian football.So we take a look at five reasons why the ISL is good for Indian football:
#1 ISL has put India on the global football map
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The Indian Super League has not just taken football to every household in the country, but also made a place for it in Indian households. From Atletico de Kolkata showcasing their ISL trophy at the Vicente Calderon to Delhi Dynamos’ active association with West Bromwich Albion, the tournament has definitely made an impact.
Another example of the good impression built by the ISL can be seen in the fact that foreign players are now viewing India as a legitimate footballing destination and have used their good play here to win contracts in top leagues back in Europe and South America during the ISL off-season.
The biggest example of the ISL’s popularity would probably be the fact that Brazilian legend Pele attended Atletico de Kolkata’s match against Kerala Blasters, thus drawing the attention of media world over.
What the ISL has achieved in just one season, no one involved with Indian football would ever have dreamed of. The ISL has got India on the global map of football and for a country with a burgeoning football following, it’s a huge platform to build on.
The growth of the ISL has prompted top European clubs and authorities to look at India as one of the most lucrative markets to spread their base. With the interest of the Europeans garnered, it’s not too long before investments start pouring into football in India.
A boost in investment could see India go places in the footballing world and the success of the ISL would then be proportional to the growth of Indian football.
#2 Great learning curve for Indian players
The ISL has been able to attract some big footballing names in its first two seasons. Very few admirers of the beautiful game in India would have imagined seeing the likes of Marco Materazzi, Nicolas Anelka, Roberto Carlos and Lucio play in India for Indian clubs.
If it was a dream come true for many Indian fans, it definitely is a great experience for young Indian players and gives them a learning curve they can only benefit from.
Working with experienced foreign players who have won almost every major honour will only help the Indian players learn a lot about game management, taking care of themselves in between matches and give them the chance to polish their skills further.
The fact that there are experienced coaches in the league, coaches who have worked with mainstream club sides and national teams across the world, makes the ISL an opportunity that the young Indian players need to make the most of.
Learning from coaches like Zico, who has managed Japan and clubs like Fenerbahce and CSKA Moscow, David Platt who was Manchester City’s assistant coach during their 2011-12 title triumph and Cesar Farias who led Venezuela to the semi-finals of the Copa America in 2011 will teach the Indian boys to adapt to different coaching styles, and help them learn as much as they can, to ensure that they become better footballers.
#3 Much-needed professionalism added to Indian football
The lack of professionalism in almost all aspects of Indian football has hugely hampered the progress of Indian Football. From decision making to execution, there is a lot that needs improvement and changing and the ISL has managed to do just that.
Teams have worked to give their players the best possible facilities and staff to practise and learn from. This was evident when FC Pune City brought in Matt Radcliff and Niall Clarke, the former having worked with Manchester United last season while the latter worked with Manchester City and West Ham United the last 5 seasons.
Bringing in personnel of that calibre clearly reflects the importance clubs have given to making sure that players are taken care of well off the field such that their diet, training sessions and recovery are all monitored properly.
Extensive coverage of all matches, with detailed statistics and graphics have helped engage audiences much more, with social media used very well to reach out to the fans.
Apart from everything done during the season, teams are also planning their pre-seasons very well, giving their players enough time to become a proper unit, with a dedicated coaching staff complete with analysts and physical trainers helping players learn the team’s tactics better, and at the same time relax and keep themselves in shape.
It is these standards that have ultimately led to the league being accepted as one of the top upcoming leagues in the world.
#4 Make football a viable career option for young aspiring footballers
It is said that India’s best football players are often found in a glass building working under the designations of engineers or managers or journalists. It is hard to believe that a country with a population of over a billion can’t produce a decent football team. But such is the reality sad reality of Indian football as dreams of becoming a footballer are killed in the womb itself.
The ISL auction and draft showed that all the teams were ready to splash the cash to land the players they felt added value to their team and made them a better unit. The financial security offered by the league is something essential to promoting football as a viable career option.
The increasing number of sponsors associated with different teams shows that there is definitely a market for the ISL and that it has for sure captured the imagination of the country, with the viewership being great.
The ISL arriving on the scene has changed how football is perceived in India and kids and their parents could actually look at football as a viable career option thanks to a healthy salary structure in the ISL.
#5 ISL will eventually improve the national team
The net result of the first four points is the fifth one and the one which is the most desired change any Indian football fan seeks. Seeing India play in the World Cup might still seem a very long shot, but the ISL represents a big step in the right direction. For the AIFF and other organizers, improving the quality of the national team would be a major part of their long term goals.
The arrival of quality foreign coaches, along with experienced foreign players has worked to raise the level of matches in general, and that is definitely something that would have helped the Indian players assess themselves and see where they need to focus on the most to improve.
An example of this would be Sandesh Jhingan and his rise to prominence. He shone with the Kerala Blasters in season 1 of the Indian Super League and won the Emerging Player of the Tournament. His performances saw him get selected for the Indian national team, of which he is now an integral member.
Apart from the players, a lot of coaches too are getting exposed to the highest level of coaching techniques too and could learn a thing or two from experienced managers like Peter Taylor and David Platt. So there could be chances that the ISL could throw up a coach who turns out to be a ‘Special One’ for Indian football and the national team.
