The I-League has been in such a sorry state of affairs that one can be excused for feigning ignorance of such a competition even being in existence.
The league, which was launched amidst much fanfare in 2006 and was touted as the next big thing in Indian football, has failed miserably in its endeavour to set the pulse racing. The All India Football Federation hasn’t marketed the league with any zeal.
The situation looks alarming indeed with the spectator turn-out being next to nothing at the stadia and worse still is the plummeting TRP ratings.
Blame it on the lethargy of the AIFF or the quality of football on view, the end result is that Indian football has remained stagnant as it has been since the late 70s with any hopes of resurgence only as good as a pipe dream.
Looking on the bright side amidst all this doom and gloom however, here is a piece of news that is bound to hearten fervent Indian football fans.
Pune Football Club have been in the spotlight for becoming the first Indian football team to complete the sale of a player midway through his contract. Pune have sold attacking midfielder Lester Fernandez to Kolkata-based Prayag United.
The 25-year-old officially became a Prayag player after both clubs agreed on a transfer fee of `20 lakh. Getting a player by paying a transfer fee is unheard of in India. Lester’s move relieves him a year ahead of his deal with Pune FC.
Pune FC consider this move to be a path-breaking exercise and are optimistic that it will help the club to become self-sustaining in the not too distant future.
This latest development is being hailed as a step in the right direction by former football players and many have already expressed their belief that it will help professionalise Indian football even if it has taken a long time to come to fruition.