In what could be a double bonanza of sorts, Pailan Arrows' 20 contracted players are likely to be hired by IMG-Reliance on loan for their upcoming IPL-style football tournament.
The AIFF today announced that their developmental team, which was facing threat of being 'disbanded', would play the upcoming I-League.
An official in the knowhow of things added that all the 20 players are set to join the franchise football tournament slated for early next year.
"The decision is like a shot in the arm for IMG-Reliance as it's requirement of Indian players would now be almost filled by the Arrows players," an official said.
"Since Arrows players are directly contracted by the AIFF, it is believed that all the 20 players would come on board. After all, IMG-Reliance are AIFF's marketing and commercial partners."
When contacted, AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said if a "loan out" proposal comes in future they would consider.
"They want players from all the teams. Pailan Arrows are just another team playing in the I-League. The players cannot sign again, but it's a different matter if they would play for the IMG-Reliance on loan. As of now, we have not received any loan request. We will see, if it comes," Das told PTI.
There will be eight franchises in the upcoming tournament and each would have a mandatory 13 Indian players apart from about eight foreign recruits.
Each franchise is mandated to scout five local players from their territory, leaving the IMG-Reliance the task of roping in 64 Indians.
Over the last two months, the AIFF marketing partners have signed 35 Indian players and with 20 more players from the Arrows the quota would be almost filled.
As of now the following players have reportedly been signed by IMG-Reliance for the upcoming tournament: Bhaichung Bhutia, Subrata Pal, Syed Rahim Nabi, Chitrasen Chandam, Ishfaq Ahmed, Gouramangi Singh, Govin Singh, Bisheshwor Singh, Renedy Singh, Khelemba Singh, NP Pradeep, Sushil Kumar Singh, Sanju Pradhan, Sukhwinder Singh, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Ramandeep Singh, Sushant Mathew, Sandesh Jhingan, Surkumar Singh, Mohammed Rafi, Tomba Singh, Nirmal Chhetri, James Singh, Nadong Bhutia, Arindam Ghosh, Lalrinfela, Luis Barreto, Peter Costa, Manish Maithani, Ramandeep Singh, Subhash Singh.
