Fabio Cannavaro, Robert Pires, Robbie Fowler and Hernan Crespo in all new India League

Italian World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro is stepping out of retirement to make a comeback in India.

The Italian will be part of a six team competition which will be a joint venture between the Indian Football Association and the Celebrity Management Group (CMG), known for handling these gala events in the past.

Cannavaro as well as other famous names including Englishmen Robbie Fowler and John Barnes, France's Robert Pires, Argentinians Hernan Crespo and Juan Pablo Sorin, Spaniard Fernando Morientes and Jay Jay Okocha of Nigeria are all set to be part of the new Indian league.

Cannavaro, 38, tweeted: "I'm getting back on the pitch with the Indian Football Association, West Bengal."

From what is heard, there will be the following six franchises: Kolkata, Barasat, Howrah, Haldia, Durgapur and Siliguri. And the rule is that each team must have at least one 'famous' foreign player and a foreign coach.

Peter Reid and Colin Todd, who both have English Premier League experience, are expected to join Barnes amongst the coaches on offer.

The plan is for the competition to run for 10 weeks with matches on Wednesdays through Sundays, usually at night, according to Italian press reports.

Television rights are expected to be sold not only in South-east Asia but also Europe and America.

:mental: :dance:

:bom:


except i have my boards during that time

*sigh* and all we get in the UAE is Gyan and Maradona lol

da fuq, why step out of retirement and play in India? ffs

The xcx wrote:da fuq, why step out of retirement and play in India? ffs

UMAD?

The xcx wrote:da fuq, why step out of retirement and play in India? ffs

2 billion strong market man, someones got to tap it.

ali8775 wrote:*sigh* and all we get in the UAE is Gyan and Maradona lol

come on UAE's football league must be much better than I league lol..

Bayern goes on tour, and now these guys sign up? Looking good for India.

They arent playing in the I-league though.

This is sort of a special tournament like the IPL in cricket which would run upto almost 3 months.

If anything it could possibly disturb the I-league schedule since i would assume all the top Indian players and International players would be participating in it(not entirely sure).

I anyways would be extremely happy to see them play in India though.

Surag.Blueguy wrote:They arent playing in the I-league though.

This is sort of a special tournament like the IPL in cricket which would run upto almost 3 months.

If anything it could possibly disturb the I-league schedule since i would assume all the top Indian players and International players would be participating in it(not entirely sure).

I anyways would be extremely happy to see them play in India though.

if it has even 20 percent of the success ipl had i would be happy imo

plus cannavaro, morientes, crespo ,pires amazing.. how will the clubs be formed? ipl style based on regions?

Read the article.Six franchises and all from Bengal.

aah, wtf only bengal..:/