Sourav bats for youth and discipline, has doubts about a unified league

SOURAV GANGULY, co-owner of ISL defending champions Atletico de Kolkata, has come out to bat for youth and quality over yesteryear stars in football. Speaking to the Bengali newspaper Ei Samay, the ex Indian cricket captain spoke on the need of having a younger, fitter team to deliver better quality football. The ex Indian cricket captain praised all the franchises who have brought in foreigners in their 20s, saying,

"If you remember, I always said, next time we need young foreigners in the team. We can't just go after big names. Actually, if the game is good, then the excitement will go up automatically. Last year was the first time so we needed something catchy and we did it. It's time to focus on the football. It's good to see everybody is realising that."

Sourav was hopeful that the franchises will come better prepared this time, and make the competition much more exciting. And he also spoke of the need to have a proper structure in managing the team, in which the coach gets preference over all,

"Who should get the full reign other than Habas? Who will know what's good for the team other than the coach?... He made us the champions on the very first edition... he deserves this opportunity."

He also stressed on the importance of having a professional environment within the team, as well as discipline. Speaking about ATK's star striker from the previous season, Fikru Teffera, Sourav said,

"He has been left out due to disciplinary reasons. In any team discipline is the core. Nothing should be done that negatively affects the team."

But the exclusion of Mohammed Rafique, in the end, was something Sourav himself was not in favour of,

"The decision surprised me. Rafique played well. And the goal on the final was exceptional. Don't know why he was left out... but the coach has the final word. He must have felt the need to replace him. He must have gotten someone better."

Speaking about the expectations around the defending champions, Sourav was cautious,

"There will always be expectations. And it causes pressure as well. All I can say is the team this year is better than last time."

But when asked about the potential unification of ISL and I-League, Sourav was keen to avoid making any direct comments, but his words carried a mild echo of the narrative ATK have been propagating, opposing the merger:

"You can't just say something on a topic like this. It requires a lot of thinking. Kolkata has clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting. They have their own loyal supporters. And these same fans support ATK in the ISL. What will happen to them if the leagues are merged?"

It's hard to imagine the poor supporters being plunged into a massive crisis of loyalty here; it will be a case of them having to choose one club to support for the rest of their lives. But that seems to be a case of concern for the Atletico de Kolkata administrators. They are afraid that the fans will dessert them en masse if they become an opponent to clubs they have been loyal to for for decades. Perhaps that explains why Baichung Bhutia, another Atletico de Kolkata official, has been so vehemently against the merger.

You can read the entire interview here.