In a cricket frenzy world of India, football is slowly becoming a household thing. Indian Super League has been a revelation for Indian sports in every aspect. People of India have started giving the love our players deserve; not just Indian players but all the players in general. The league has become competitive, skill level is increasing, it’s getting intense and supporters are backing their teams religiously. And when legends like Marco Materazzi, Diego Forlan, Thierry Henry, etc, grace competition with their presence, it does create and impact. These impactful moments intrigue interest of people and helps in connecting players with their supporters.
Here we bring some of the best moments from ISL 2016:
1. Thierry Henry: A legend who has proven his class, not just for Arsenal but for France as well. He was here in India to grace the occasion of an ISL match between Mumbai City FC and Athletico de Kolkata. He praised the way football has been promoted in India and how the foreign players made an impact. He stressed on work at the youth level. He said youth is the future and they must be nurtured well. Better the nourishment, better the growth. He also talked about his love for arsenal and Arsene Wenger.
ISL has become a bigger brand over the years. And when players like Thierry Henry come to the country, in footbal-ic climate conditions, it does create an impact.
2. Diego Forlan: Ex-Manchester United forward had a dream start to his career in ISL. He has carried the torch for Mumbai City FC throughout the season now. No other foreign striker made such a dreamy start to his career in ISL. International football stars are always loved and they create that in the audience which drives them ahead. He is the real deal and should be making some headlines in ISL.
3. Marco Matterazi: Italian World Cup winner and current Chennaiyan FC manager has been in news once again in his career. He was involved in an after match fight Manuelle Bladi and Karven Belfort. He was found guilty of ''misconduct against an opposition or persons other than match officials", under AIFF disciplinary committee Article 49C of unsupportive behaviour towards a match official of opposition team.
He has been known as the bad boy of football, after Zinadine Zidan disclosed why he head butted Matterazi in 2006 World Cup final match. He creates an impact with his actions does create a sensation around the football world.
4. Leo Costas late goal for Mumbai City FC help in playing a draw against Chennaiyan FC. They lost all four matches they played against the defending champions. He launched a rocket left footer 25-yard kick right in the corner of the net.
Two big metropolitan cities will always have a rivalry with each of some sort. And it is not so different between Mumbai and Chennai. Both love their cinema, both love their clubs, both are passionate and both has loving people. And matches like these keep the spiciness alive in the rivalries. Manchester United vs Liverpool, Barcelona vs Real Madrid or the rivalry between Chennaiyan fc and Mumbai city FC; all these have historically rich cities and common passion for football. Some feasty times ahead!
5. Mohammed Sissoko rescued point after Kerela Blaster's scored fastest goal of ISL. He scored a dramatic 68th minute goal to rescue a point for his team. A cross from Jonatan Lucca saw Sissoko take a shot at goal which deflected off Hughes and sneaked past Kerela Blaster's goalkeeper.
A late goal can lift the morale of whole team and change the course of season as well. Some of the best leagues in the world have one thing in most their matches; a late goal or two is a common scenario. Impactful things I tell you.
