IPL style football set to start in January

On the footsteps of Indian Premiere League(IPL), Indian football is set to witness a similar type of league which has been named as "Premier League Soccer". It is tipped to be the biggest project ever undertaken for football in India.

The main objectives of Premier League Soccer are to improve the infrastructure of football in Bengal and revitalize the sports among the people of Bengal.

Format:

Six franchisees will bid for six towns in a competitive bidding system.
The six towns which have been shortlisted are Kolkata, Howrah, Siliguri, Midnapore, Barasat and Asansol.
The bidding companies will only be eligible if they have a net sum of Rs. 10 Crores.
League Duration: 7 Weeks
Time: January to March,2012
Team will consist of National as well as International Players.
3 Maximum overseas players, Minimum 1 Overseas player(Asian Origin Player), Minimum of 6 U-21 Players, Minimum of 5 Catchment Players, Maximum of 10 players from anywhere in India.
Maximum Squad Length: 18 and 1 Coach, 1 Assistant Coach along with a Physio
UEFA/FIFA 'A' licenced Coach of overseas origin
Starting XI: Max. 3 overseas Player, 1 Asian Origin Player, 1 U-21 Player
Apart from the 3 overseas Players, there will be one Icon player who should be preferably a World Cupper or should have represented his country.
All matches will be played under Floodlights
All matches will be telecasted live on a Regional Channel.

The league is organized by Indian Football Association(IFA), Bengal along with Celebrity Management Group(CMG).

Apart from Infrastructural development, the project is also expected to cover Youth Development and building up referee's academy.

The bidding for the franchisees will start in July and it is also being learnt that as many as eight business parties have already shown their interest in this lucrative project.

With players of the stature Edgar Davids and Junichi Inamoto already confirming their presence in the Premier League Soccer along with the likes of Philippe Troussier, football in the state of West Bengal is surely expected to benefit from this extravaganza.

About Debraj Banerjee

Hi, I am Debraj Banerjee from Adra, West Bengal. A keen follower of Indian football and always an optimist that the game will get the recognition it truely deserves. What we ask from you is your support and one day the dream might turn true. Fingers crossed for Indian football. Cheers!

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