Indian Super League: India’s biggest football event kicks off

mangaloretoday.com/ India Today

Mumbai, Oct12:It was an evening to remember for the people residing in ’Mecca of Indian Football’ as a riot of colours lit the Salt Lake skyline with much awaited Indian Super League (ISL) doing everything possible to strike the right chord with the football afficianado.

 

Touching the hearts of the football-loving crowd, chairperson of IMG-Reliance and founding Chairperson of Football Sports Development (ISL) Nita Ambani formally declared open the ISL.

"Ami Indian Super League er Subho Suchona Korchi(I declare the auspicious opening of ISL)-- I formally declare the Indian Super League open," she said surrounded a rare amalgamation of Bollywood and cricket and world football celebrities who represented the eight franchises.

 

 

The fireworks lit up the sky in a full capacity Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan to conclude a 45-minute opening ceremony as the 70,000 capcity crowd were treated to some eye-catching visual extravaganza.

Amid the confluence of Bollywood superstars, renowned sportpersons, corporate magnates and politicians, it was master blaster Sachin Tendulkar who drew the maximum applause.

With chants of ’Sachiiiiin, Sachiiiiin’ reverberating the colossal stadium which had the earlier capacity of 120,000 now reduced to 72,000, crowd gave a standing ovation to the retired legend.

For a moment, it felt Tendulkar was once again going into the middle to take guard before the reality took over as clad in yellow t-shirt Tendulkar and his Kerala Blasters marquee player David James made the entry into the centre podium.

 

Atletico de Kolkata vs Mumbai City FC

Hosts and Sourav Ganguly-owned Atletico de Kolkata will start as favourites when they take on Mumbai City FC in the much-anticipated opening match of the ISL.

Atletico de Kolkata features former Liverpool star Luis Garcia and India defender Denzil Franco.

On the other hand, the Ranbir Kapoor co-owned Mumbai City FC have been dealt with a major blow as their marquee player Fredrik Ljungberg is all set to be ruled out of the opening match due to an injury.