XtraTime Web Desk: All India Football Secretary Kushal Das is confident that Kolkata giant East Bengal will surely join the Indian Super League (ISL); that may be this season or 2021-22 campaign. But he thinks that the Red & Gold Brigade must join India’s top league when they are totally ready to play in the Indian Super League.
“I am absolutely certain that East Bengal will play ISL – be it this year or next year. If they come in ISL they must come in with a long-term vision and with a proper structure. It took six months for Mohun Bagan and ATK to finalise the deal. It is better to wait for a year. Because the heavens are not going to fall if they play in ISL from next year. They still have an issue with their old partner (Quess Corp). If they manage to resolve it then they are welcome from this season,” stated Das during a webinar organised by West Bengal Chamber of Commerce on Indian football.
On being asked whether there is a deadline for East Bengal to adhere to he replied, “Club licensing starts on July 15. If a new entity comes in then they have to get a lot of NOCs (No Objection Certificates). And this they should get from AFC (Asian Football Confederation). AIFF has nothing to do with it.”