The Indian Football League, popularly known as the I-League announced its 10th edition of the coveted league tournament amid much fanfare.
The upcoming season will witness the return of Indian footballing stalwarts like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal and at the same time also witness the heroes of last season, Bengaluru FC defend their I-League crown and justify theirAFC Cup heroics.
Speaking on the occasion of the launch,All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel said, "The 10 participating teams in the 10th edition of the Hero I-League are based from across the length and breadth of the country. I thank Hero MotoCorp for their support to the I-League and Indian football."
Pan India Spread To Highlight 10th Edition Of Hero @ILeagueOfficial #HeroILeague https://t.co/vnORYKdQt6 pic.twitter.com/QYXYsz8aW2
Speaking on what the I-League means to its fans, Patel said,"The league is the unifying factor for the football fans in India as right from Aizwal FC in the North-East to Mumbai FC in Mumbai, and from Minerva City Punjab FC in Chandigarh to Chennai City FC in Chennai, the clubs represent pan India. The Hero I-League is the premiere league of the country through which teams participate in the AFC Cup and the AFC Champions League. I wish success to all the participating teams."
Not only that, theAIFF general secretary Kushal Das said, "The competitive spirit of the I-League has been outstanding over the last few editions. The League witnessed a substantial increase of almost 40 percent in spectator attendance and here we are, prior to the kick off of the 10th edition, expecting the graph to further go up."
Media interacting with the stars of India in New Delhi #HeroILeague pic.twitter.com/fMeAr0n5Xy
He also stated that this season the league will witness teams from all corners of the country."This edition, the league has a pan India presence. I wish luck to all the teams. May the best team come out as the winner of the Hero I-League. Hero Motocorp has been providing extensive support for the promotion of Indian football and I thank them for their cooperation."
The league will kick off on 7th January and all the teams will compete for the crown for 6 months. The first match will be played between champions Bengaluru FC and Shillong Lajong FC.
They all pledge to win it. 90 matches, 1 winner. May the best team win. #HeroILeague @IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/jM5QHnAuVY
Speaking on the growth of football in India,Pawan Munjal, Chairman, MD & CEO, Hero MotoCorp Ltd said, "Football has clearly become one of the most popular sports among youngsters in the country. As the title sponsor of all the marquee football tournaments in the country - Hero ISL, Hero I-League and Hero Federation Cup - Brand Hero has been the pioneer in popularising the game in India."
With over 100 matches to be played by the 10 teams in the fray, the Hero I-League and Hero Federation Cup will certainly bring a lot of excitement for the fans, and contribute towards the long-term development of the game.