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Journalism of Courage
After a successful round of meetings with potential investors in Dubai over the weekend,All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Kushal Das is likely to travel to Manchester this week to tap a few English clubs,including reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.
The AIFF is hoping to target European sides who are interested in co-branding opportunities,if not complete ownership. This would essentially involve the clubs offering their technical expertise to a sister club in the I-League in exchange for commercial (merchandising and marketing) potential. According to Das,representatives from EPL sides Queens Park Rangers and Manchester City and second-tier side Blackburn Rovers have expressed interest in venturing into the Indian market. QPR are co-owned by steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal while Blackburn were purchased by Pune-based company Venkys two years ago.
Das will primarily travel to Manchester for a football-specific convention but it is likely he will make a proposal to officials from the above mentioned clubs. Weve had European clubs visit India to play and train on promotional tours in the past but this is an entirely different opportunity for them. This is something which has never been done before. It offers huge potential in return on their investment, Das said.
The AIFF is hoping to draft at least two new teams in the I-League next season and the bidding for the teams is expected to start at approximately $35 million. The teams will have to develop infrastructure and invest in youth academies and,in return,will not be relegated for at least three years.
Das,along with AIFF president Praful Patel and I-League CEO Sunando Dhar,met with a few interested parties in Dubai last Saturday. Talks with prospective clients in Delhi and Dubai have attracted around 40 companies,according to AIFF officials. The two clubs will replace Air India and ONGC,who have been expelled from next season for failing to fulfill Asian Football Confederation norms.
