 "Why ISL continues to face uncertainty despite start date being announced by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya")
The Indian Super League continues to face uncertainty in some quarters despite Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently announcing 14 February as the start date for the 12th season of the Indian top-flight football competition.
The All India Football Federation, after all, is facing a series of challenges with regards to the final schedule for the season that will have 91 matches taking place on a home and away basis with all 14 teams in action. What’s more, some of the clubs aren’t even confident of their home venues being in shape to host games a month from now.
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According to The Times of India, the fixtures and venue operations working group – which includes officials from ISL clubs as well as from the AIFF – had presented a draft schedule before the participating clubs for their approval on Sunday.
The idea of starting the season with the ‘Kolkata Derby’ showdown between defending champions Mohun Bagan and fierce rivals East Bengal, however, did not get the thumbs up that the working group had hoped for. Additionally, a majority of the 14 clubs that will be in action next month aren’t entirely confident that their home venues will be able to host ISL matches at a short notice, or that they will be available for the entire duration of the upcoming season.
The ISL, after all, had been put on hold for months from its original start date of September, and several venues that normally host fixtures during the season had agreed to host musical and political events in the coming months.
Only three venues available for the entire 12th season as of now
The report states that only three club – Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal as well as FC Goa – have their home venues available for the entire 12th season. It would, however, be a massive challenge for the organisers to have a 91-game season across just three venues.
“It’s not easy to confirm the fixtures with several stadiums being unavailable. Only three clubs have their home stadiums available for the entire duration. We don’t know when the grounds will be ready, and in what conditions. At some venues, there are musical events and political meeting,” a senior official was quoted as saying in the report.
Guwahati’s Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, home of the NorthEast United FC, had recently hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also has a CRPF event lined up for next month. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kerala Blasters’ home venue in Kochi, faces uncertainty due to incomplete work – including their turf not being in ideal “playing condition”.
The season is scheduled to run for over three months until 31 May, with each club playing 13 matches – half of them at their home ground. The AIFF had also announced that a truncated season of the second-tier I-League will be taking place within the window allowed for ISL 12.
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