A
new football league in the Indian state of West Bengal featuring
semi-retired world stars has been postponed after encountering “many
problems”, organisers said on Wednesday without elaborating.
The franchise-based Premier
Soccer League, based along the lines of cricket’s popular Indian
Premier League, was due to be played across six venues in West Bengal
from March 24-May 6.
Former Nigeria captain
Austin Jay Jay Okocha, former Nigeria coach Samson Siasia, former
Argentina star Hernan Crespo, Italy’s World Cup-winning captain Fabio
Cannavaro, Robert Pires of France and England’s Robbie Fowler were among
the stars signed to play alongside district-level players.
Six local business groups
that bid successfully for a team to play in the PLS had splurged around
$7m to buy the world stars at an auction last month.
Crespo was picked up for
$840,000 and Cannavaro for $830,000, while former Arsenal star Pires
fetched $800,000. Nigerian Jay Jay Okocha got $550,000 and Fowler was
sold for $530,000. Siasia who was to coach Okocha’s team was auctioned
for $200, 000.
“We will announce the new
dates soon,” said Utpal Ganguli, secretary of the Indian Football
Association, the name of the body running the sport in West Bengal.
“There are many problems
which need to be sorted out. We are confident the tournament will be
held in West Bengal. But for now, it is not starting on March 24.”
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