CMG's Executive Director Bhaswar Goswami: Premier League Soccer is inspired by MLS

Premier League Soccer (PLS) has turned heads from across the world towards India as it turns a new chapter in its otherwise drab soccer history. For those uninitiated, PLS is what can be referred to as soccer's version of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but on a smaller scale.

Conceptualized by Celebrity Management Group, a Sports-cum-Event Management Company, which has a 30-year agreement with the Indian Football Association (IFA), the soccer governing body for West Bengal, to promote and develop the league into one of the hottest sports properties in the continent.

Goal.com caught up with Bhaswar Goswami, executive director of CMG, to understand what prompted an innovative idea such as the PLS in a country where the nation’s top division league is devoid of any sponsors and the national team is lying 158th in the latest FIFA rankings.

Goal.com: How did the idea of PLS came about? What was the thought process behind this?

Bhaswar Goswami: Since we hosted Diego Maradona (back in 2008), we started thinking about some projects which will become an integral part of the development of the game in India. We worked on a number of ideas such as hosting big teams on a regular basis, organizing coaching seminars, etc.

Then in the process we developed this idea of a full-fledged yearly competition which will be very different from what we have now. We studied various leagues with great interest and thought the franchise system of MLS should be the one we follow and hence started working on the concept. Then at various stages we consulted Indian Football Association and finally this model was adopted.

Goal.com: Any reasons for not taking the idea on a national scale and preferring to work only in West Bengal? Was it the 'play safe' strategy or you do plan to go national at a later stage?

BG: I am sure that, like us, everyone will accept that going national was the best possible option or the ideal 'play safe' strategy for a model like this. We would still love to explore the possibilities to expand PLS to the national level as and when it is possible. We are in constant consultation with IFA about the same and, as an authorized football body, they will surely do their bit to expand PLS, if it is possible.

Goal.com: Various reports claims the names of several players coming for PLS. Could you confirm the names of the six districts, and the foreign marquee players and coaches expected to be auctioned?

BG: The SIX franchise cities are: Kolkata, Howrah, Barasat, Durgapur, Haldia and Siliguri.

The ICON Players are: Fabio Cannavaro, Hernan Crespo, Juan Pablo Sorin, Jay-Jay Okocha, Robbie Fowler and Robert Pires.

The Coaches: Samson Siasia, Teitur Thordarson, Marco Etcheverry, Peter Reid, John Barnes, Fernando Couto and Colin Todd. 

Goal.com: Given that the general opinion is that Indian soccer isn't marketable, were you convinced of getting corporate/franchise support from the onset or did it take some convincing?

BG: I do agree that football isn't as marketable as cricket in India, but I do believe that right kind of content and packaging can make it more interesting than it is today. Also, it is clearly evident from recent TAM figures that the football viewership in India is on the rise, which is surely encouraging. I also feel the marketability of football can only increase in case everyone associated to the game (such as, federation, associations, marketing companies, media, etc.) tries to do so consistently. I hope PLS at least plays an effective role in generating interest about the Indian football among the fans, corporates and all concerned.

I must accept that it requires motivating corporates to invest in football in India and it will be same for some time to come. I am sure with a success of initiatives such as PLS and beyond, it will be easier for everyone to find investors in football as well. Football surely has a huge potential as a sport in India and no one denies the same. It's only a matter of time and initiative that football will grow in India.

Goal.com: What, according to you, given that you extraordinarily managed to host the Argentina-Venezuela match last year, is the right formula to get Indians to visit the stadiums and even follow Indian soccer?

BG: Surely, it’s the quality of the game and players which can bring more fans to the grounds in India. As we do not have world class Indian footballers today, we need to depend on overseas ICON players. But the moment we are able to produce few world class Indian players, everything will be different.

I hope the strong youth development structure we are going to implement through each of the PLS franchises will result in help the young talents to reach the next level and eventually within few years we will have new young players who will attract attention from all concerned.

Goal.com: What are the prerequisites/rules to be a franchise owner? And how can they recover their money - as in what is the structure that you provide that they see a business model in PLS?

BG: Any company with a turnover of $10 million for the last three years can submit their bid. In case of a joint venture company, the combined turnover should be $10 million.

Goal.com: Did you face an opposition to this idea of PLS given that this concept is quite revolutionary in every aspect? 

BG: Since the time we have launched it finally on Jan. 13, it is being spoken about across the football world. I am receiving hundreds of mails and calls each day from different kind of people and almost all of them are excited about it. I have been informed by some of my associates that there have been news all around the world and it has been very well received everywhere till now.

Goal.com: Would the PLS be able to capture the minds of those who follow the English Premier League and get them to start noticing the local talent?

BG: I am sure about it. It is bound to attract the attention of the football fans across India and once we are able to present few talented Indian youngsters beside the legendary footballers, it will grow dramatically.

Goal.com: Would the local Indian players also be auctioned?

BG: Yes, we are busy creating a pool of approximately 100 players across the country for the auction. At the most 84 of them will be sold in the auctione. The list is at the final stage and will be released to all concerned soon.