Stage set for I-League

Stage set for I-League
l Herald to promote I-League in Goa
HERALD SPORTS REPORTER
PANJIM, DEC 2
The Goan stage is all set for the I-League when newly-crowned Super Cup winners, Dempo Sports Club will lock horns with Churchill Brothers Sports Club on December 4, at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, at 4 p.m.
Herald has joined hands with the organising committee of the I-League to promote the event at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda. It’s the first time that any newspaper has lent its support for the prestigious top level National football championship involving India’s top 14 professional clubs.
The I-league is the AIFF’s flagship event and is in its fourth edition. Goa is proud to be hosting 39 matches this season. These ties will include home games of Goa’s top three Goan outfits participating, namely Churchill Brothers Sports Club, Dempo Sports Club and Salgaocar Sports Club.
As an added incentive to promote football among the youth, students will be admitted free provided they turn up in their school uniform.
The winners of the league will be richer by Rs 50 lakh while the runners-up will have to settle for Rs 28 lakh. Rs 20 lakh and Rs 10 lakh will be distributed to the third and fourth place teams respectively.
The winner of each match will be richer by Rs 35,000 and there will be Rs 5,000 cheque waiting the man-of-the-match.
The other prizes up for grabs are the winner’s trophy for I-league champions, winners of fair play contest, highest scorer of the league, best goalkeeper, Jarnail Singh award for best defender, best half, best forward, and Syed Abdul Rahim award for best coach.
The match day experience will be taken care of by Jaju Fernandes, Seby Rodrigues, Anthony Fernandes, Cajetan Pires, Alex Noronha, Domnic Vaz, not forgetting the tireless volunteers to manage the scoreboard, ball boys and stretcher boys.
Tickets will be available for sale at GFA Margao office, from 9.30 a.m. on December 4. Passes for the matches will be ready as soon as the sponsor’s logo is received.
The AIFF and GFA join hands in promoting fair play and this is evident by the presence of fair play flags at the venue, the shaking hands of the players and the FIFA fair play evaluation form.
The chief guest for the much awaited Churchill-Dempo tie will be Sports Minister Manohar Azgaonkar.
GFA executive committee member, Anthony Pango feels that the match will be an entertainment feast for football passionate fans.
“Dempo and Churchill Brothers are overwhelming favorites for the title and the opening match between the two makes it a perfect setting for the I-league. Can football fans ask for a better start? It will be a tremendous encounter and I hope that the stands hold to their maximum capacity this time around,” Pango stated while making arrangements for the big match on Saturday.
A low turn out last season had been a great concern for the GFA but Pango insists that the trend will change.
“We have a feeling that people will come in large numbers as there’s a terrific enthusiasm amongst football fans. A full gallery is always a pleasing site for a football match and it brings out the best from the players. It gives them encouragement and when players perform at their top, it’s football entertainment and Goans are known for their passion. It will be great for fans to come out in large numbers and cheer our teams. The I-League crown is with us and fans should come out and support our teams as they truly deserve it,” Pango stressed.
Since the start of the I-League from the now defunct National League, the mantle of the Indian champions has been with Goan teams, with Dempo Sports Club and Churchill Brothers winning the title.
Meanwhile, the GFA had its meetings and are set for the start of the league.
“We had our meetings and we are ready for the league to begin. But what’s more vital, is crowd presence for the matches. We are expecting huge crowds for the matches. Our teams Dempo, Churchill Brothers and Salgaocar are very strong and football fans should support our teams so that the title remains with us,” Pango concluded.