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ISL Hopes to Wake ‘Sleeping Giant’ of Football

By Rohit Ghosh on October 10, 2014

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ISL has India Excited for Football

Robert Pires Arsenel Football Indian Super League

Photo courtesy of FC Goa Facebook

ISL has India Excited for Football

Photo courtesy of FC Goa Facebook

On October 12, about 100,000 Indian spectators -- including many of India's richest and most popular celebrities -- will file into a football stadium to watch some of the best competition the domestic market has had a chance to witness in many years.

Mix of Talent

Photo courtesy of Motera Stadium Ahmedabad Facebook

Mix of Talent

Photo courtesy of Motera Stadium Ahmedabad Facebook

The 10-week tournament features mostly Indian players, but also a number of "marquee" European soccer stars, many who have come out of retirement: former Juventus strikers Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet, and former Arsenal attackers Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg.

Aim of Tournament

Michael Chopra India Football Soccer EPL

Photo courtesy of Cardiff City Football Club Facebook

Aim of Tournament

Photo courtesy of Cardiff City Football Club Facebook

The goal of the ISL is to promote and market football in India, a country of 1.2 billion that has often been referred to as the sleeping giant of football. Despite the potential quantity with its numbers, India is still 158th in the world on FIFA's list. Maybe the ISL will be the catalyst that changes the low ranking.

"I went to the U.S. to promote the game there, and it worked really well. I want do the same thing here." - Freddie Ljungberg

Rohit Ghosh is a Senior Writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @RohitGhosh. “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.