East Bengal to make ISL debut in 2020

iconic East Bengal club will make its debut in Indian Super League this season, organisers of football tournament anunced on Sunday.

century-old club's inclusion in ISL this season was on expected lines after its new investors Kolkata-based Shree Cement Limited, picked up bid documents to enter ISL.

A consortium of Shree Cement Limited and East Bengal, kwn as Shree Cement East Bengal Foundation, h submitted bid documents to FSDL.

East Bengal will be 11th team in competition, which will be played at three venues of Goa this year due to COVID-19 pandemic. Welcoming East Bengal into ISL, FSDL chairperson Nita Ambani said Red and Golds' inclusion after arch-rivals Mohun Bagan, who merged with ATK, in country's top division, is a monumental development for Indian football ecosystem at large.

"It is such a happy and proud moment for ISL as we welcome East Bengal FC and ir millions of fans into League. inclusion of both legacy clubs, i.e. East Bengal and Mohun Bagan (w ATK Mohun Bagan) opens limitless possibilities for Indian football, especially for talent development in state," Ambani said in aa statement.

"West Bengal has me an immense contribution to growth of beautiful game in India. ISL's growing footprint in state and across India, is yet ar step towards our mission of building a competitive and robust football ecosystem in country." 

Im credits: PTI / Twitter