Indian Super League will spell doom for Indian football: Valanka
TNN | Apr 13, 2014, 12.54 AM IST
LINK: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Goa/Indian-Super-League-will-spell-doom-for-Indian-football-Valanka/articleshow/33673538.cms
PANAJI: A lot changes in a year. Or were there?
India will soon have a new prime minister, Sachin Tendulkar has retired and Manchester United's legendary match-winning skills are fast diminishing.
But there are some things that never change. Valanka Alemao's avowed opposition to the Indian Super League, for example.
To be organized later this year by IMG-Reliance, marketing partners of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Indian Super League has evoked strong response from Bollywood stars and top industrialists. It will, organizers say, change the way football is viewed in this part of the world, but Valanka, CEO of I-League champions Churchill Brothers, isn't ready to jump on the bandwagon.
"Tell me what has changed? They have the same money-driven plan, ageing players and a tournament that has no sanctity. Of what use is a tournament that has no promotion or relegation system," asked Valanka, who has made her opposition to the tournament known at every possible stage.
In the past year since Valanka gathered enough courage to take on the might of the AIFF and IMG-Reliance, she said equity and "other extremely tempting" offers have been made.
"I have been saying all along that the interest from corporates in (Indian) football is good. But can anyone tell me why are they not tying up with existing clubs, rather than float these ridiculous idea of a super league. This is such a weak-structured tournament that it's bound to fail," she said.
The I-League, in its new avatar has been around for seven years, and its previous avatar, the National Football League, for 17 years. Yet, neither the clubs nor their football, have moved ahead a bit.
"The fault should be placed at the feet of AIFF. Look at Japan and how their league has been successful even though it was started a few years earlier (in 1992). They had a vision. In India, we have the Lakshya 2022 project but everyone knows it's only on paper.
"The AIFF tells us to adopt best practices from Asia and introduced the club licensing criteria. We follow them religiously but what are they giving us in return? Television revenues are not shared, we invest crores every year yet don't even get 10 per cent in return," she said.
Valanka, along with other I-League club officials, had in the past a meeting with former secretary (sports) Keshav Chandra, urging him not to allow the ISL to be held at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda ahead of AFC Cup. This season, that's unlikely to happen, though, as the Dempo-Dattaraj Salgaocar-Videocon joint bid suggests. Worst still, some clubs could soon jump ship.
"None of us are vocal and that's why the AIFF is dictating terms. I cannot put a gun to the head of other clubs," said Valanka.
Valanka remained convinced that the Indian Super League will eventually sound the death-knell for football in India.
"Believe me, this is one of the most detrimental tournament India could ever have. It's going to kill a sleeping giant without allowing it a chance to wake up and get out of bed. Some retired foreign players will probably laugh their way to the bank but without a strong youth developmental base, Indian football will crumble," she said.