Subrata Pal Calls For 20-Team Indian Football League
New Delhi: With the current debate over whether the Indian Super League (ISL) should take over as the top league of the country or if the I-League should continue as the primary league, India goalkeeper Subrata Pal feels that a long league is the order of the day.
Speaking to IANS on the controversy which has engulfed Indian football, the custodian made it clear that irrespective of the league which is made the primary competition, there should at least be 20 teams participating in it.
“To be honest, I personally feel that there should be a proper league where there will be 18 to 20 teams, there will be a proper calendar and each team will play a match a week and around 40 matches in a season. Plus there will be shorter tournaments like Super Cup or Federation Cup and the international matches. And for that, whatever needs to be done has to be done by all of us, our federation, we players, our clubs, I mean all the stakeholders,” he pointed.
Subrata Pal said that for Indian football to rise through the ranks, it is important to have a solid league system.
“To improve a country’s football a proper league system is very important. You see all the developed football nations like in England, in Europe, even in Asia we have J-League in Japan, Korean league, they have a structured league system in place.”
Like former India skipper Bhaichung Bhutia, Pal also prefers an open league which will have promotion and relegation. IANS