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Tomorrow at 6 pm (IST), ISL will finally kick start a new beginning of Indian football at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata. The opening ceremony of the ISL will be a 45 minutes long affair in which Kolkata's Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee will inaugurate the League and start the event. The commemoration will be a musical evening attended by numerous known personalities.
Priyanka Chopra will be performing alongside Varun Dhawan on a montage of her songs. The jamboree will begin with all the composers playing their respective compositions for their state's football club. Salim Merchant will conclude this musical gala by leading the League's anthem in the midst of extensive fireworks. It will be an elaborate event with a total of 160 drummers and infinite dancers.
After the golden era of Indian Football (1951-1962) where India went on to win the Asian Games and three consecutive Colombo Quadrangle Cup, it has eminently failed to impress the international football world. The aim for the League is to prepare Indian players for the 2026 Fifa World Cup so that they qualify because of their play and not by default as happened in 1950.
All the owners and co-owners of the teams will grace the inaugural ceremony. The list includes Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Indian Cricket team's skipper, Mahender Singh Dhoni. Many industrialists including Mukesh and Nita Ambani, Munjal, Dani and AIFF's president, Praful Patel will also be in attendance.
A total of 61 matches will be played over a period of 70 days. 94 foreign players will fly down 'to push it over the goal line' with the Indian players, however, Indian Football team's skipper, Sunil Chhetri, won't be playing as his team, Bengaluru FC, did not give him permission to join the League. You can watch the matches from home on Star channels and Fox Star will be the international broadcaster or you can just run to the stadium as the tickets are available at very peppercorn prices.
The wait is finally over. So, 'Come on, India. Let's Football'!
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