Hero I-League launched and first match results

On 21st November, a significantly low-key but glittering opening ceremony, attended by the team captains and coaches, served to launch the 11th edition of Hero I-league as the premier football league in the country for the last time. The talk about ISL taking over next year has been discussed time and again with many a die-hard football fan not pleased with the proceedings but one can only wait and watch.

The proceedings will have kicked off on Nov 25, 2017 and culminate on Mar 6, 2018. Joining the action this year will be three new clubs: Gokulam Kerala FC from Calicut, Neroca FC from Imphal and Indian Arrows from Delhi. The Indian Arrows is the AIFF developmental team comprising of the the India U-17 and India U-19 team players. The prize money has also been upped with the winners getting Rs 1 Crore, runners-up getting Rs 60 lakhs, third place getting Rs 40 Lakhs and the fourth place finisher getting Rs 25 lakhs.

Game 1: 25/11/2017
#MPFCvMB Minerva Punjab FC v Mohun Bagan 1-1

The opening game of the season featured debutants Minerva Punjab hosting the 'Mariners', Mohun Bagan at the GN Stadium, Ludhiana. The Mariners' struggled to get going and the same could be seen with the hosts. With most of the game being focussed in the midfield, there were hardly any attempts by either side on the goals early in the game. The deadlock was broken in the first half by Sony Norde in the 43rd minute who took the visitors ahead. However, in the dying moments of the game, Moinuddin Khan (88') equalised for the debutants sending them into rapturous celebrations. The visitors could not make any inroads after that and had to settle for a draw which was definitely not the way they intended to kick off the start to this season. They might also consider themselves as lucky since the debutants missed quite a few opportunities and could easily have been 2 goals up early in the second half. Ivorian Lago Dagbo Bei had a shot hit the post and then after setting Girik Khosla up, saw the striker not able to convert. Even Deepak Devrani failed to score against his old club with his point-blank shot going over the bar.