As a Goan, I can say football runs in my blood and as most Goan I am also a diehard fan of FC Goa. There is no doubt that the ongoing ISL Tournament has been a huge hit and I am very thrilled about its success. On the other hand, it also pains me to think this will have significant effects on the important I-League. I have a belief that what the Ranji Trophy is to cricket, I-League is to Indian football. With the success of the ISL, it will be difficult for the I-league clubs to stay afloat financially given poor popularity compared to recently launched ISL.
But the fact of the matter is that the writing is clear on the wall for a slow death of the I-League and the age-old clubs with their great past. Nevertheless, the best way forward will be to capitalize on the success of the ISL and direct the ISL club owner to start youth developing programs with under-19, U-16, U-12, etc. teams in order to make it a fully-fledged league.
The big question is whether the team owners who were shouting at the top of their voice that they are into it to promote football in the country will be ready to part with their profit by investing it back into football or will they come again only next year to make more money and disappear is something that only time will tell.
Valent Mascarenhas, Calangute
