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The AIFF Bid Evaluation Committee met at the AIFF HQ in New Delhi today, December 11, 2016 to evaluate the five I-League bids submitted after the retendering was initiated on November 25, 2016.
The five clubs (NEROCA FC, Minerva Punjab FC, Sudeva FC, FC Bardez, Chennai City FC) submitted their bids and based on the evaluation of their proposals, the Bid Evaluation Committee decided to award Chennai City FC & Minerva Punjab FC the right to field their teams in I-League season 2016/17 which is slated to commence on January 7, 2017.
“I, on the behalf of AIFF, welcome Chennai City FC and Minerva Punjab FC to the I-League family and we all hope that we will have a competitive I-League”, Mr. Das said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Minerva Punjab FC formerly known as Minerva Academy FC have already plied their trade in the Second Division League 2015-16 having secured the second position.
Kushal Das added, “With Chennai City FC & Minerva Punjab FC joining the fray now, we have ten teams competing in the next I-League. Now, we have representatives from Chennai and Punjab, which means we’ll reach out to more supporters and newer markets.”
I-League CEO Sunando Dhar also sounded ‘happy’ with these clubs’ inclusion.
“Yes, of course, I’m happy. New teams from two new venues will add a newer dimension to I-League and they will get a chance to rub shoulders with the top clubs of Indian Football”, Mr. Dhar commented.
The inclusion of these two sides mean that the 10 team I-League 2016/17 will consist of Bengaluru FC, Mohun Bagan AC, East Bengal Club, Mumbai FC, DSK Shivajians FC, Shillong Lajong FC, Aizawl FC (not relegated), Churchill Brothers SC (reinstated), Chennai City FC (corporate entry), and Minerva Punjab FC (corporate entry).
Reasons why NEROCA FC (Manipur), Sudeva FC (New Delhi), and FC Bardez (Goa) were not included in the I-League was not given by the AIFF Bid Evaluation Committee.
