Debasis Sen in Goa
The AIFF Super Cup gets underway without much fanfare in Goa from Saturday, October 25, with the final slated to be played in November. Kolkata giants – East Bengal and Mohun Bagan – will be in action on the opening day. The Red and Golds take on Dempo SC at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim while Mariners will face Chennaiyin FC at the Fatorda stadium in Margao.
The manner in which the Super Cup is being staged highlights the sorry state of affairs when it comes to Indian football. Understandably so, with an air of uncertainty looming around the start of Indian Super League (ISL) and All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) commercial partner. For a tournament where the champion side can secure a playoff spot for the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Two season, a lot more is desired from the football federation.
There is literally no marketing being done for the tournament with hardly any branding noticeable even outside the two venues. It was decided at the last moment that the matches at Bambolim will be live-streamed on AIFF YouTube channel while the matches in Fatorda will be televised on Jio Hotstar.
There have been several complaints from participating teams like East Bengal about lack of proper practice facilities. To see the pre-tournament press conference involving the teams from Group A being held virtually was literally a joke.
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Having covered domestic cricket for over a decade, one can’t help but notice the stark contrast between how cricket and football is being run by the administrators. Unlike the AIFF, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ensures all tournaments, irrespective of age-groups being staged in a professional way, which includes regular media updates.
The BCCI has even made it mandatory for contracted players to participate in first-class matches. In comparison, the AIFF’s handling of domestic football appears disorganised. Teams such as Real Kashmir have opted out of Super Cup citing insufficient time to assemble their squads, while others, including Chennaiyin FC, Mohammedan Sporting, and Dempo SC, have been unable to register any foreign players.
Is football really struggling to attract crowds? Last season’s Super League Kerala final had a crowd of over 35,000. Over two games this season, we have already seen more than 21,000 attendances. It’s all down to ticket pricing and good promotion, neither of which AIFF seems bothered about.
Media covering the last edition of the Super Cup in Cuttack reported a similarly disappointing experience. The tournament, to say the least, was underwhelming. Attendance was poor across all matches, including the final, with even the home side, Odisha FC, playing in front of largely empty stands. Most notably, there was virtually no promotion of the tournament in Cuttack, an essential factor in building local interest and supporting the growth of the game.
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