Football stars Gouramangi, Nirmal have full faith in IMG-R's proposed league

Training at the crisp astro-turf at Cooperage were 32 footballers signed up by IMG-Reliance for their proposed IPL-style league — coaching under the tactful eye of former East Bengal coach Trevor Morgan — passing and dribbling their way through the various drills he set them, their blue t-shirts in contrast to the orange cloths surrounding the facility. Among them were Gouramangi Singh and Nirmal Chettri — two of the big names IMG-R have managed to get on board. And despite all the negativity surrounding the league and its various consequences on Indian football, they seemed convinced that they’ve made the right decision. [caption id=“attachment_1016739” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Gouramangi Singh has more than 60 international caps under his belt. AFP[/caption] “People have thought, ‘what is going to happen’, but we’re hopeful that there’ll be a solution. Indian football is in transition and growing, and we have complete belief in IMG-R that they have made plans for the future. After all, they’re AIFF’s (All India Football Federation) official partners,” said Gouramangi, one of India’s best centre-backs, who has more than 60 international caps under his belt. One of the main concerns of football purists has been the fact that the IMG-R league lasts only for two-three months, and with the reluctance of the I-League clubs to share their players with the league, these professionals risk sitting out for the rest of the season without any football to play. We asked Gouramangi whether he had given this a thought: “Of course, we can’t sit out for the rest of the year, and even though I can’t mention the specifics, I’m sure that the IMG-R has thought about solutions. Overall though, I’m very impressed with the facilities and with the prospect of playing with international players and training under international coaches.” Chettri admitted that there was mystery surrounding the league and how it would do, but people needed to be patient: “No one can say how it will do till it starts, but there’s no doubt that we hope for great success. Let it start, then people in India will know what football is.” He also said that in an ideal situation for players, they could play for both leagues: “Every player wants to play in both the IMG-R tournament and the I-League. And if things don’t sort out, then we believe IMG-R have a Plan B.” Earlier national coach Wim Koevermans dropped India’s Player of the Year Syed Rahim Nabi for the Tajikistan friendly, but Chettri was tight-lipped on the exclusion of his usually omnipresent national teammate: “It’s the coach and selectors who’ve decided the side,” he quipped.