Q: Is it a feasible option to merge ISL with the I-League? When will it happen?
Das: I do not think you should call it a merger. We are looking at the whole club competition “ the ISL, I-League to make it a proper competition which benefits Indian football.
Q: The Under-17 World Cup will be held in India the following year. What is the preparedness of the national team?
Das: There is a big plan. They have a schedule chalked out. There is a mini tournament happening in Goa from May 15 to 26 where five teams are participating. It is an invitational (Under-16) tourney with teams from US, South Korea, Tanzania, Malaysia and India. They will play in a round-robin format with the final match between the top two teams. Then the team goes to Europe for 2-2 ½ months. Essentially, they will go to Germany for preparations, but would also play a tournament in Norway. Then, they will come back and prepare for the AFC Championship (U-16) to be held in Goa in September. This tourney would feature the best teams in Asia who have qualified for the final round. The Championship is the qualification for the Under-17 World Cup. India has qualified as they are hosting the tournament. But in this Championship, there will be other qualifiers.
Q: With the eventuality of the formation of the new league, what will be the case of the Goan clubs who have a rich legacy but who did not fare too well? I am also given to understand the top two I-League teams get an automatic qualification in the new league. Your thoughts…
Das: We have not decided at all. We are still in the planning stage. When we come up with a plan, we will disclose it to everyone.
Q: How many teams will the new league comprise of?
Das: Even those things are not clear. We are just working on it. We are all putting our heads together to find the best possible solution. Whenever we are ready with the first cut, we will announce the details.
Q: Could you at least tell us the tentative date of this most-anticipated announcement?
Das: We are trying our best to come out with the first cut of the plan by May-end (this year).
Q: What’s your take on the Santosh Trophy wherein I-League team players are unable to play? And normally, the cream of the players comes from Goa and Bengal, who are unable to put up their best teams…
Das: That is the decision taken by the technical committee. They felt that I-League players should not play in the Santosh Trophy because that does not allow other players of the State who are not playing the I-League to play major tournaments.
