MUMBAI:
Hero Indian Super League, the unrivalled competition that emerged as the third best attended football league globally in its second season, is once again set to capture India and world’s attention starting Saturday, October 1, 2016.
The promoters, Football Sports Development Ltd. today announced Hero ISL 2016 fixtures, featuring 61 games spread across 79 days played in a home-away league format followed by two-legged semi-finals and the final. The ‘Super Sunday’ final is scheduled on December 18, 2016. Venue for the finals will be announced at a later date. All the matches will kick off at 1900 hrs (IST).
Guwahati gets ready for Lights & Cameras, NorthEast for Action
With just over a month from now, Guwahati will witness galaxy of stars descending to lighten up the spirit of beautiful game in the North East with Hero ISL 2016 opening ceremony scheduled on 1st October.
With ISL focus on the region, John Abraham owned club NorthEast United FC would hope it aspire his boys to get a jump start to their campaign when they take on Sachin Tendulkar owned Kerala Blasters FC. Coincidently, 2016 would turn out to be the third consecutive opening clash rivalry between John Vs Sachin in a row, NorthEast United having won 1-0 on 4th October 2014 at home and losing 1-3 on 6th Oct 2015 at Kochi ground.
NorthEast United’s Home match fixture (Indira Gandhi Stadium, Guwahati): 1st Oct. vs Kerala Blasters FC; 4th Oct: vs. FC Goa; 20th Oct vs Chennaiyin FC; 28th Oct. vs Atletico de Kolkata; 5th Nov vs Mumbai City FC; 22nd Nov vs FC Pune City and 30th Nov vs Delhi Dynamos FC.
Clash of Titans
Action will move from the emerging football market in far East to the hub of the football in West Bengal very next day, with Atletico de Kolkata backed by its loyal fans will get the first feel of their new home ground at Rabindra Sarobar stadium.
The two ISL Titans – inaugural champs ATK and defending champs Chennaiyin FC will get down to business putting their pre-season training plans to test as early as second day of the League.
Atletico de Kolkata’s Home Match Fixture (Rabindra Sarobar Stadium) : 2nd Oct. vs Chennaiyin FC; 16th Oct. vs FC Goa; 22nd Oct. vs Delhi Dynamos FC; 25th Oct. vs Mumbai City FC; 17th Nov vs NorthEast United FC; 29th Nov. vs Kerala Blasters FC; 2nd Dec. vs FC Pune City.
Mumbai Local to chug on Fast Line
Ranbir Kapoor’s Mumbai City FC would hope to gain from their move to city’s fast life on western line, as they leave the harbour line’s D Y Patil stadium at Navi Mumbai to settle at the newly laid greens at Mumbai Football Arena (Andheri Sports Complex). Mumbai City FC will play its first home match on 7th October against NorthEast United.
Mumbai City FC’s Home Fixtures (Mumbai Football Arena, Andheri Sports Complex) : 7th Oct vs NorthEast United; 11th Oct vs Atletico de Kolkata; 21st Oct vs Fc Goa; 10th Nov vs FC Pune City; 19th Nov vs Kerala Blasters FC; 23rd Nov vs Chennaiyin FC; 3rd Dec vs Delhi Dynamos FC.
Super Machas Face Off Gaurs
Defending Champions would come home to play to its capacity crowd for the first time since lifting the ISL 2015 trophy with a match scheduled on 6th October against Delhi Dynamos.
However, the bigger match everyone would await with beaten breath could be on 13th October when the Super Machas will have a face-off with FC Goa at Marina Arena.
Chennaiyin FC Home Fixtures (Marina Arena) : 6th Oct vs Delhi Dynamos FC; 13th Oct vs FC Goa; 29th Oct vs Kerala Blasters FC; 2nd Nov vs Mumbai City FC; 15th Nov vs FC Pune City; 20th Nov vs Atletico de Kolkata; 26th Nov vs NorthEast United FC;
Detailed fixture can be viewed at www.indiansuperleague.com
ISL 2015 : A Recap
The second edition of Hero Indian Super League witnessed an unparalleled response in the history of Indian Football. ISL established astounding ratings for the sport on air and surpassed the Spanish La Liga in terms of average stadium attendance to be the third most attended football league globally. Hero ISL brought Indian football to the world stage with its high quality football. The globally viewed competition had a whopping 186 goals scored in the second season as compared to 129 in the inaugural season at an average of 3.09 goals per game.
Indians assisted in 45 goals and scored 48 that included two hat-tricks by Sunil Chhetri and Haokip. Stevin Mendoza won the Golden Boot for the Champions scoring 13 goals in the season. Over 1.65 million fans made their way to eight city based club’s home stadiums to witness this unrivalled footballing event unfold.
