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A sign of approval is what every league official would want when they are looking to publicize a new-league like the Indian Super League is.
Arsenal’s longest-serving manager Arsene Wenger has backed the ISL to be a big success, also calling it out to be a perfect platform for world class players who are past their prime but yet are willing to play.
“Being completely at the top finishes when you are 34 at the latest,” the manager told Arsenal Magazine.
“After that, you have different leagues like the MLS and the Indian Super League. I encourage players to play as long as possible if they really love it. Pires is 40, but he still plays and when he comes to training here, he's still very good.”
Age doesn’t matter
The ISL runs from October to December and harbours five former Arsenal players in its inaugural season.
Robert Pires (Goa), Freddie Ljungberg (Mumbai), Nicolas Anelka (Mumbai), Mikael Silvestre (Chennai) and Andre Santos (Goa) are all taking part in this tournament.
“The only thing I always say is that once you're on the pitch, you give your best. Your age doesn't matter - people can understand that you're not as quick at 40 as you were at 30,” Arsene continued.
“Play with passion, with your heart and technical quality - that will be enough. They give a good image of the game."
A new age of Indian football
"They can make football popular on different continents and in different countries, where it's taking off. I think it's fantastic,” he adds.
The league has been received warmly by the people in India with the sense of excitement among the supporters that a new league like this requires including the ones who have been never very much interested in it.
“If you look at the history of football, it has always become quicker and it looks like it grows everywhere. It's like a virus that multiplies, so I don't imagine that it won't take off,” he said.
“It took a while in the United States but it's now very popular. It faces cricket in India, but there's always room for a second sport. There's only really badminton and cricket in India at the moment, but there's room for another sport.
“I know that the people there watch the Premier League and I'm convinced that with such a huge population, it will take off,” he concludes.
