Want to impact India’s sporting fabric: Sachin

Considered the ‘God of Cricket’ for more than two decades, the iconic Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday took the plunge into football when he bought the Kochi franchise in the Indian Super League, forming a new bond with ‘God’s own Country’.

Tendulkar, who brought the curtains down on a glorious 24-year international cricket last November, won the right to own the Kochi franchise in partnership with the Prasad V Potluri of PVP Ventures. 

‘I will always remain a sportsman at heart who is keen to positively impact the sporting fabric of the nation. The Indian Super League presents a great opportunity to develop a platform for the youngsters to learn and enhance their talent to develop into outstanding players,’ Tendulkar said in a statement. 

‘It has been an interesting experience interacting with the young, passionate team at PVP Ventures led by Prasad Potluri. Based on the various insights shared by the team, the opportunity of the Kochi club seemed like a compelling and challenging proposition. With the Kochi club, we will strive to ‘score our goals’ and play a part in developing the game of football across the country,’ the batting legend added.

PVP has a significant presence in real estate, media and entertainment and also owns Hyderabad Hotshots in the Indian Badminton League.

‘We look forward to developing the Kochi club in the Indian Super League and are proud to partner with one of India’s greatest sportsmen, Sachin Tendulkar, in our efforts. We will tap the potential talent as also channelise the fervour and passion for football across the country to enhance the quality and competitive level of the sport,’ said Potluri, chairman and MD of PVP Ventures Limited.

‘The following and enthusiasm of football in the southern part of the country presents a fertile opportunity for us to execute our plans and leverage global expertise for the development of a world class club,’ he added.

The ‘Sleeping Giant’ of world football has finally woken up with the advent of Indian Super League and organisers, stakeholders associated with the much-anticipated event expressed confidence that this will change Indian football for good.

Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly were among the host of high-profile winning bidders as the organises of ISL unveiled the eight franchises for the event that is set to take Indian football by storm.

‘It is with great pride that I welcome the eight League Partners to the Indian Super League. We want to unlock the unbound aspirational energy of yur youth through grassroots and community development programs,’ said Nita Ambani, chairperson of IMG-Reliance, organisers of the event.

‘Together, we will strive to build a vibrant ecosystem that will provide impetus to football in India. As mentor of the League, I commit myself to development of football as a major sport for the youth of India,’ she added.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter had once called Indian football a ‘sleeping giant’. The bid winners for the eight franchises of the league, which is scheduled to be held in September-November, was announced here by organisers IMG-Reliance after evaluation of the bids by a seven-member panel.

The league is being organised in partnership with broadcast partners Star India and has the backing of All India Football Federation. AIFF president Praful Patel called it the most exciting period in the history of Indian football.

‘No period in India’s long and proud history in football is more exciting than Sunday. This day will go down in memory as a special day for Indian football as eight-high profile celebrities and corporates are being introduced into the sport through Indian Super League. 

‘With IMG Reliance & Star providing the perfect foundation, the League has become an unstoppable force which would change Indian football,’ Patel said. 

Spanish top side Atletico Madrid owner Miguel Angel Gil Marin said he was ‘excited to have won the Kolkata Franchise of the ISL and being the first international team to be directly owning a Club in India.’ ‘We along with our Indian partners and IMG-Reliance aim to revolutionise football in the country,’ he said.