Now is not the right time to merge the ISL and I-League, says Bhaichung Bhutia

India football icon Bhaichung Bhutia doesn’t believe that merging the Indian Super League and the I-League is the solution to Indian football’s problems. At least, not yet.

“I don’t think the ISL and the I-League should become one,” Bhutia said at a press conference announcing a partnership between logistics company DHL and the ISL. “The ISL is doing well in the two-three months it runs for and then we have the I-League. Yes, one league is eventually needed but now is not the right time,” he said.

India national coach Stephen Constantine and captain Sunil Chhetri have recently called for the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to ensure there is just one league in the country. But Bhutia said there were a lot of issues that needed to be worked out first – for example the availability of foreign coaches and players.

The ISL features coaches like Zico, Marco Materazzi and Roberto Carlos and player imports like Simao Sabrosa, Roger Johnson, Elano, Tuncay Sanli, Didier Zokora, Nicolas Anelka and Helder Postiga. It is not certain that they would all agree to a eight-month long full football season in India.

Earlier this month, AIFF president Praful Patel said that IMG-Reliance, the I-League clubs and the ISL clubs would discuss bringing the two leagues together. A working committee will shortly be set up to find out the best way to make the transition.

The ISL’s deal with DHL, which has become the league’s logistics and timing partner for this season, is also an indirect indictment of the I-League and serves as reference point for the dilemma Indian football is facing.

“We chose the ISL because of the intensity, the commitment and the planning, DHI vice-president RS Subramaniam said when asked why they had not partnered with the I-League previously. “They have a 10-year roadmap for the league and for Indian football. They have a grassroots programme and plan to train 500,000 kids. Also, the viewership last season was great and all this works very well when you look at it from a marketing perspective.”