The season Indian Super League (ISL) turns 13 is also an opportunity for clubs to show that they can run it.
Early indications have been good but Ravi Puskur, the FC Goa CEO, told HT: “Tomorrow is when the actual work begins.”
On the pitch, the challenge for over half the clubs – including Churchill Brothers who took Jamshedpur FC’s sporting licence to play in ISL – is to be as sharp as those who have played competitions. SC Delhi and NorthEast took part in the Durand Cup. NorthEast and Punjab FC played in the Shield. The Spaniard was referring to his third and final season at FC Goa.
Now with Mumbai City FC, Marquez will take the former champions to Churchill Brothers on Sunday after pre-seasons from August 24 and with new signing Farukh Choudhary joining after Tuesday’s friendly against Uruguay. Because player signings were held up due to a FIFA ban, contrast that with Inter Kashi hosting Kerala Blasters with little training.
“Last year when we were playing in Asia, we were better than most teams in the Super Cup initially,” said Manolo Marquez. After losing the Durand Cup final to East Bengal, Mohun Bagan won the IFA Shield beating their archrivals on Thursday.
Punjab FC have drafted 10 academy graduates to the first team, an increase of three from 2025-26. A two-year data rights deal worth approximately ₹ 15 crore every season has been signed, said the CEO of another club. The CEO, who did not want to be named, said, including broadcast production costs, ISL will need around ₹ 36 crore to conduct 163 matches.
Get more Indian players was another recommendation. Some form of video referral was a third suggestion. He is on the management committee of ISL which also has a governing council comprising the owners and AIFF top brass. “So, this involves learning on the job. A season of many firsts is also likely to be Sunil Chhetri’s last.
Pitchside monitors where the referee can see footage from the eight cameras used might be available at some stage this season, a league official said. “We didn’t want a third party but we also didn’t know how to run a league,” said Puskur. “It would be nice to go to every venue and say ‘thank you,’” Chhetri, 42, told HT last month. “Getting into the first team isn’t easy but it is competing for a place that really makes me feel alive.”
