PLS: The IPL of Soccer

In a nation wrapped with cricket fever, finally there is some good news for the football fanatics of India.

The Premier League of Soccer , a West Bengal based franchise tournament that starts next month, is here to take soccer to a bigger stage in this country and help produce India’s next generation soccer stars.

The league will feature former stars like Hernan Crespo, Fabio Cannavaro, Robert Pires, Jay Jay Okocha, Robbie Fowler and Juan Pablo Sorin as Icon players. The league is organised by Celebrity Management Group, who has signed a 30-year deal with Indian Football Association, the apex body of football in West Bengal.

The six participating teams, Kolkata, Barasat, Durgapur, Howrah, Haldia and Siliguri, were up for bidding, where surprisingly, the Barasat franchise was sold for the highest price. URO Infrarealty acquired the Barasat franchise for Rs 251.5 million, paying over three times the base price of Rs 8 million. Siliguri came second, going to Ajay Consultants for Rs 180 million and Camellia Group bagged the Kolkata franchise for Rs 115 million. The Howrah and Durgapur franchisees were bought by Syncsys Infotech and Tulip Infotech for Rs 90 million and Rs 76 million respectively. The Haldia franchise is yet to find an owner as the bidders are stuck on to their base price.

In the auctions held today at Taj Bengal Kolkata, Hernan Crespo was bought by Howrah at the highest base price of $840,000 and Italy’s World Cup winning skipper Fabio Cannavaro was grabbed by Siliguri for $830,000. Legendary French winger Robert Pires was bought by Howrah for $800,000 but Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler, however, was subjected to a bidding war between Kolkata and Durgapur but it was Kolkata who had the last say at $530,000. Jay Jay Okocha of Nigeria and Bolton fame, went to Durgapur.

Among the coaches, it was Kolkata who bagged the former Manchester City manager Peter Reid for $200,000 while Fernando Couto, the former director of football at SC Braga, was the most expensive coach at $240,000 brought by Howrah.

Along with their Icon players, the teams will have a pool of overseas players , mostly from South America and Asia , and a host of Indian national and catchment area players, to form a 30-member squad.

The upcoming league is a great step towards a much-needed boost for India, which despite its huge population, sits at 158 on the FIFA world rankings. But doubts remain over the PLS, which do not have an official logo or website, has struggled to publicise the event properly.

Lets hope this league inspires the next generation of players to carry India closer to the World Cup dream!