By Joseph Solomon,
AIFF Media Team
NEW DELHI: The ingredient for any successful League is its set of avid supporters, the Footballing acumen and finesse showcased by the Players plying their trade in the League and last, but foremost, the competition which boils within the League – testing the cohesion of Teams and the mettle of Players.
The Hero I-League this season has been no less than a wild spinning cauldron, imbedded with twists and turns at every moment and has tested the toughness of the players, both physically and mentally, with its rigorous competition.
Perhaps with two Teams out of eleven, McDowell Mohun Bagan and JSW Bengaluru FC, vying for their place in history and six Teams involved in the relegation battle is proof enough of the high level of competition which runs like blood within the Hero I-League.
While Mohun Bagan lead the Hero I-League table with 38 points, it would be naïve to dismiss title aspirants Bengaluru FC, who have enough fire power in their arsenal to garner a win and snatch the coveted trophy out of Bagan’s hand. As the scenario stands the showdown on May 31, 2015, between Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan is bound to covet itself as the title-decider, much like Manchester United against Chelsea on May 11, 2008.
If the League standings are anything to go by then the mid-table of the Hero I-League is no alien to the competitive nature of this season and is no less than a pit of vipers which has the ability to suck any team into the relegation battle.
Besides third placed Royal Wahingdoh, who have done pretty well for a Team playing in its first promoted season, Kingfisher East Bengal and Pune FC, who are both tied at 29 points in fourth and fifth position.
Six Teams entangled within a 3 point difference, are entwined in a heated battle to maintain their position inside the holy grail of Indian Football. And while Mumbai FC have garnered themselves a sort of vantage point, which looks to evade them from the drop with 21 points, Kalyani Bharat FC, who have had a long season lag at the bottom of the Table with 18.
Caught between this melodrama, which unfolds every match day and captures the essence of competition to its fullest, are Teams such as; Salgaocar (7th), Sporting Goa (8th), Shillong Lajong (9th), Dempo SC(10th).
Nevertheless, with various permutations and combinations still left to embed in the equation of Hero I-League, the five Teams fighting to avoid the drop must aim for a win to guarantee their place in the next edition of the Hero I-League.
With the League Table dissected, one can conclude that the level of intense competition framed in this season’s Hero I-League is bore by the level, which seems to be on an upward surge, of Football in India.
The Hero I-League this season has been far from predictive this season and has captivated its audience, while seducing them with tricks of the trade, like the blockbuster TV Series Game Of Thrones.
With a single Matchday left, the competition is like never before – as the battle for the Championship rages on at the top, the battle for survival continues at the bottom – one can only assume and speculate the numerous permutations and combinations which the Hero I-League has still left to seduce us with.
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