ISL Bandwagon Reaches Capital as Delhi Dynamos Take on FC Pune City
The Delhi team, owned by cable TV distribution company Den Networks, won their three practice matches easily with foreign recruits Mads Junker, Morten Skoubo, Hans Mulder and Pavel Elia all among goals.
Having received a tremendous boost with a glamorous opening night action in Kolkata, the Indian Super league (ISL) bandwagon reaches India's capital city Tuesday when Delhi Dynamos host FC Pune City in the third match of the inaugural football tournament at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.
Both teams, ahead of their first match of the competition, will bank on some impressive form in their warm-up games.
The Delhi team, owned by cable TV distribution company Den Networks, won their three practice matches easily with foreign recruits Mads Junker, Morten Skoubo, Hans Mulder and Pavel Elia all among goals.
But all eyes will, undoubtedly, be on Italian World Cup winner Alessandro Del Piero, possibly the biggest name among the foreign recruits in the ISL.
The former Juventus star is reportedly the highest paid footballer in the cash-rich tournament.
The team has decided to employ the 'Dutch style of football', having entered into a partnership with renowned Dutch club Feyenoord.
They have also named Dutchman Harm van Veldhoven as their manager and boasts of an array of young Indian players in Robert Lalthlamuana, Naoba Singh, Shouvik Ghosh, Govin Singh, Shylo Malsawmtluanga, Francis Fernandes, Manish Bhargav, Adil Khan and Souvik Chakrabarty.
But they will be evenly matched by their opponents, Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan co-owned Pune team.
They head into the match having registered three wins from four matches. But crucially, their 'marquee' footballer French star David Trezeguet is among goals as is their other striker, new acquisition Dudu Omagbemi.
They will be coached by Italian Franco Colomba and have Italian Serie A side Fiorentina providing technical inputs. Pune have also roped in the likes of former Greece international midfielder Kostas Katsouranis and ex-India player Mehrajuddin Wadoo.
Home team Atletico de Kolkata defeated Mumbai City FC 3-0 in the opening match the Salt lake stadium. In the second match Monday, Guwahati-based NorthEast United FC entertain Kerala Blasters FC.