Reliance Industries group Chair Mukesh Ambani "has hailed the start of a glamorous new football league that organisers hope will trigger an explosion of interest in the game," according to the AFP. Ambani, who is bankrolling the Indian Super League, said, "What a fantastic start to ISL." He spoke to reporters late Sunday "after Atletico de Kolkata downed Mumbai City 3-0 in front of 70,000-odd fans following a glitzy opening ceremony." Ambani: "I hope that it will engage all the youth, we are looking to the youth of India to participate in football." Former France int'l Robert Pires said he was encouraged by the Indian fans who seemed to "love" their football. Pires: "Incredible atmosphere" (
AFP, 10/13). The BBC reported India's growing middle class who normally watch ManU and Barcelona in the comfort of their homes "have turned up to see Indian football for the first time." There "are also lots of women wearing saris in the crowd and young girls in Atletico de Kolkata shirts." Muskan, 15, said, "I just wanted to come and see all the international stars. It was a great match. I think we will see more girls and women coming to the stadium." But "not everyone is happy." Alok Banerjee "has been watching football here for the past 50 years." As Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra danced away in front of her "adoring fans" during the opening ceremony, he said, "I have come to watch football and not to watch film stars, unlike most of the people here" (
BBC, 10/13).
The PTI reported former Indian cricketer and Kerala Blasters co-Owner Sachin Tendulkar feels that the ISL has begun on the right note and the "fantastic start" on Sunday would be a "huge boost" toward changing the face of the game in the country. Tendulkar: "It (ISL) is a new beginning. Everyone is looking for it. It had a fantastic start yesterday (Sunday). The teams showed tremendous spirit and the crowd was very supportive" (
PTI, 10/13).
ANELKA BENCHED: In London, Simon Jones wrote Mumbai City FC Manager Peter Reid "explained his decision to leave Nicolas Anelka out of his side’s 3-0 defeat by Kolkata on Sunday despite the All Indian Football Federation giving the striker the all-clear." Reid said, "The original plan was to play him and then go to FIFA (with adequate reasons as to why he was played) but we decided against that because it would put Anelka and football as a whole in a tough situation." Reid explained that "there was ongoing communication with FIFA over the matter" (
DAILY MAIL, 10/13).
