![]() Reid, however, was optimistic about the future. On a visit to India in 2007, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said India was the "sleeping giant" of world football.īut its national side languishes at 158 in the world rankings, which experts blame on sports authorities' failure to develop training grounds and young players. "We didn't deserve it, it happens in football," the former Sunderland and Manchester City boss said.Įxperts say the ambitious ISL faces an uphill battle to convert India's cricket-mad population and develop the country's existing pockets of passion for football. Mumbai manager Peter Reid said he had "no excuses" for the loss, saying "the better team won on the day". Mumbai were also missing Anelka, 35, as he serves a ban for a controversial "quenelle" goal celebration in late 2013, which also got him the sack from West Bromwich Albion. The two coaches had pledged to "deliver the goods" for the opener even though Mumbai were missing their star players.Įx-Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg of Sweden, the 37-year-old poster boy for Mumbai, was ruled out with a calf injury. The crowd roared with approval during the ceremony as Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra introduced Tendulkar. ![]() "I watch (international leagues) all the time on TV," said Bardhan, whose wife and two-year-old son also came along. Bardhan, a soldier stationed at Kolkata airport, said he "loved football" although this was the first time he had ever seen a match live. Some 70,000 tickets were sold for the match, according to organisers, but pockets of the stadium were empty. Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of West Bengal of which Kolkata is the capital, was front row, chatting to Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani who is bankrolling the league, and Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan. The opening ceremony included throbbing Bollywood music, dancers and a large fireworks display, watched by celebrities, politicians and sports stars. Rupert Murdoch's Star TV is showing the tournament, which is being backed by sports management giant IMG. ![]() Organisers hope the city-based franchises, each with a famous - if ageing - frontman and modelled on cricket's glamorous Indian Premier League, will bolster popularity for the sport during the 10-week competition.Ĭricketing greats such as Sachin Tendulkar and Bollywood A-listers are co-owners of the teams along with Spanish La Liga side Atletico Madrid. A lot of people and so many of them pushed, pushed us," Fernandez said of the crowd. ![]() Spain's Arnal Carbo sealed the win with a goal in stoppage time. It's the beginning of something."įormer Ethiopian captain Fikru Lemessa, 28, scored in the first half, while 33-year-old Spaniard Borja Fernandez hit the net in the second, sending the home crowd at Salt Lake stadium into raptures. "Obviously they are not the current stars, that will happen over time. He conceded the international veterans fronting the eight teams are "not the current stars of football", but predicted the league would eventually attract the best in the game. ![]() "Everybody will be pleasantly surprised as the tournament goes on," the former national captain said. "It may not be cricket but it will be the next biggest sport," Ganguly, co-owner of Kolkata, told AFP just ahead of kick-off in the eastern city. ![]()
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