ISL - INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE

   

Chhetri: 'For national team to improve, domestic league has to improve as well'

Chhetri expressed his opinion of the ISL being a resounding success but claimed the feel-good factors must seep down to the players...

The captain and record goalscorer for the Indian national team, Sunil Chhetri, has voiced his opinion regarding the trasnsitional phase the Blue Tigers find themselves in, as he calls for an improvement in the domestic league set-up that contributes to the national talent at hand. Pulling the punches Chhetri also specified that the Indian Super League's (ISL) popularity must be capitalized on to provide the participants new and improved training facilities, whilst also ensuring broadcasters reached out to a wider public spectrum.

"I think it is in a transition period. But, there are a lot of youngsters coming in. We have a new coach. It's going to take some time. But just alone the national team improving, will not help. The league system has to improve. The surroundings have to improve and then only will we see positives shifts," revealed a sober Bengaluru FC skipper, Chhetri, to the Press Trust of India (PTI), 

"As far as I am concerned, as a player, I want to improve myself as much as I can. I am sure everything else is going to improve," added the 31-year-old.

Speaking on the ISL, the country's most popular football competition in which he will represent Mumbai City FC, Chhetri clarified that it has no doubt it had successfully penetrated the miasma that surrounded Indian football and projected the aspirations of domestic footballers throughout sub-continent.

"It's quite good, especially with the ISL coming up. It really enhanced the popularity we have as a nation. I think a lot of interest has been generated. Not only in terms of fans coming to watch the match, but also the corporate houses, the media and everyone coming and chipping in. I think it is very, very important if we can generate interest. It is a first step. Then we have to make sure lot of other things is done to make the game more popular," opined the two-time I-League winner, who missed out on the competition the last time around as his league club refused to release him for the tournament. 

With regards to players benefiting immensely form the IMG-Reliance organized tourney as well, the former Mohun Bagan and East Bengal striker didacted, "One of the things is to make sure that we have proper training facilities so that the game tempo increases, the quality improves. The more the quality improves then the fans are going to watch and they are going to be interested more to watch, make sure the matches are on TV, make sure the timings are right. All these things together if done well, the popularity will keep improving."

A three-time Nehru Cup winner with the national side, Chhetri expressed his intent in not setting long term goals for himself, adjudicating, "I don't have long-term goals. I never had them. For me, it bodes well when I have the next week, for me it is next training, next one week of training, next game. I can consider it more like that. I never kept long term targets. Right now, I have to start the pre-season."

"We just started with Bengaluru FC. I never had long term targets. Always short term, for me it is more achievable. I know exactly what I am doing. The next training session, next match, it is more workable for me," he concluded.

David James: 'Football is a neglected sport in India'

The 53-time capped British goalkeeper opined Indian talent had lots of scope to improve provided right coaching and infrastructure and a 'better' league...

David James, the former Liverpool and Engand goalkeeper who turned out as the marquee player for the Indian Super League's (ISL) Kerala Blasters in the inaugural edition of the tournament, claims he has seen talent that is good enough to prosper in the English game provided the right coaching. He also called India an untapped market brimming with potential, also stating he expected the national team to be a force to reckon with in the next few years with the imapct of the ISL. 

"I saw youngsters down there that were good enough to play in English football, if they had the right coaching that could help them to realise their potential," claimed James, who further added to ESPN FC'sonline portal, "Given the size of the country, I have no doubt that the Indian national side will start to emerge as a force if the Indian Premier [Super] League takes off in the next few years."

The 45-year-old was a finalist with the Sachin Tendulkar co-owned franchise, Kerala Blasters, in the inaugural edition of the tournament and opined regarding India's football development, "At the moment, the coaching infrastructure and facilities are not in place. That needs to be addressed. If a player makes it into a top European league, he could become the standard-bearer for Indian football. When you are talking about a country of that many people, you can appreciate how quickly things could improve if it is handled in the right way."

Even though India are currently seated at 156th as per the recently released FIFA international rankings, James explained, "It [India] is an untapped market, and if they invest in coaching, you will have a better league."

The former Portsmouth and Liverpool custodian concluded by elucidating he had a fantastic time at the Kochi-based franchise, stating, "We averaged 50,000 for our games in Kerala, which was amazing. When you consider that cricket is their No. 1 sport, the interest generated by the league was just amazing. 

"Football is a neglected sport in India, but there is real scope for it to take off in a big way."

Mohun Bagan rope in medio Kean Lewis

Kolkata, Aug 8 (IANS): I-League title holders Mohun Bagan on Saturday announced they have roped in 23-year-old midfielder Kean Lewis, who has earlier plied his trade in the US for sides like Houston Dynamo and Laredo Heat, for the 2015-16 soccer season.

"Lewis was on trial with the Green & Maroon and impressed one and all with his performance in practice matches the team played in preparation of CFL Premier Division-A," said a Mohun Bagan statement.

In early 2010, Lewisgave a trial at the Leicester City Academy (junior team). He was then 14 years old.

At Leicester City he trained with the U-16 and U-14 squads.

After Leicester, he continued playing for Mahindra United under the guidance of Santosh Kashyap. He participated in the U-15 Manchester Cup where he was the highest goal scorer.

In 2014 he continued to play in the Houston Football Association Premier League for Dynamo, which is the top league in Houston (not U-23).

In early 2015, Houston Dynamo loaned him to Laredo Heat Soccer Club in Laredo, Texas. The team plays in the USL Premier Development League (PDL).

ISL’s operational team takes stock of venues

The Hero Indian Super League’s operational team has completed inspection of four of the eight venues that will play host to the season-2 matches from October 3. The team has visited venues at Goa, Mumbai, Pune and was in Chennai on Friday.

“After experiencing season-1, the owners are pretty much aware of what exactly has to be done with regard to so many aspects of the league. The pitch is being relaid in Chennai and Kolkata (from artificial grass to natural grass). In Chennai we discussed about the logistics of the opening ceremony and movement of VIPs,’’ said an ISL spokesperson.

The team will travel to Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata and complete the inspection tour on August 12. ISL-2 will start with a match between last year’s winner Atletico de Kolkata and runner-up Chennaiyin FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai.