'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Pune-based DSK-Shivajians could seal a direct entry to the country’s top tier, ensuring the city continues to have representatives in the I-League after cash-strapped sides Pune FC and Bharat FC are reported to have backed out from the I-League citing financial reasons, Goal.com reported.
Chairman Shirish Kulkarni appeared alongside Ardeshir Jeejebhoy, CEO of Liverpool International Football Academy DSK-Shivajians to iron out the details in a meeting held in Mumbai with All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel.
DSK Group have a tie-up with English Premier League giants Liverpool FC for an international academy and the academy players participated in the I-League Under-19 league last season. DSK group are one of the sponsors of the Indian Super League side, FC Goa who are managed by Brazilian legend Zico.
Liverpool FC International Academy – DSK Shivajians proudly announced the selection of five players for their respective U19 national teams back in August and their recent move would give the talented youngsters a chance to rub shoulders with the country’s best players should they step up to the first team.
Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC), one of the largest audit firms in the world are reported to have begun auditing the documents submitted by the DSK Group. The club has already appointed ex- Pune FC manager Derrick Pereira as their head coach.
The AIFF are expected to invite bids from corporates for new I-League teams just as they did with Bengaluru FC, following which the bid from DSK-Shivajians will be officially entertained.
The Maharashtra-based outfit made a similar bid for direct entry back in 2013 and had also roped in current Bengaluru FC assistant coach Pradyum Reddy as their manager. However, the Maharashtrians backed out at the last moment and chose to attend to their grassroots programme by building a one of its kind infrastructure where the Indian national team recently held their camp ahead of their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Iran.
The city of Pune already has two representatives in the I-League namely Pune FC and Bharat FC. The two teams have cited financial reasons to shut their first team operations although they are yet to make an official statement on the matter.
When quizzed by Goal.com about Pune FC and Bharat FC’s decision to back out from the I-League, AIFF president Patel mentioned that Pune as a city had no need for a second team. With the AIFF keen on roping DSK-Shivajians into the I-League, the decision of the two Pune-based clubs to opt out of the league has become all the more apparent.
