MUMBAI: The Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-2025 season kicks off this week on Friday, 13 September. 13 clubs, including all three Kolkata clubs — Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, and Mohammedan Sporting Club will take part.
The ISL’s season campaign, ‘Agla Hero Kaun?’, spearheaded by Indian football icons Sunil Chhetri and Bhaichung Bhutia, taps into the emotional connection fans have with the sport while searching for India’s next football star. The 360° integrated marketing campaign features PV Sindhu, Manu Bhaker, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, PR Sreejesh, IM Vijayan and ISL club owners John Abraham and Ranbir Kapoor, amongst others- all rooting for their Agla Hero. The campaign unites athletes across sports in search of the country’s next football sensation.
Picking out his players to watch for this season, Bhutia said, “Lallianzuala Chhangte has been very promising and is still young. Sivasakthi Narayanan is also there as a young player from Bengaluru. Kiyan Nassiri is also very young. These are some of the young players who are going to do well.”
The talismanic Chhetri also had some words of advice for the next hero, saying, “If you want to be the next hero, don’t take pressure. If you are a youngster, enjoy it. Play football because you love it. Try to not listen to the noise as people will talk, play because you enjoy it.”
When asked who (NorthEast United FC owner) John Abraham’s Agla hero would be, he said, “Parthib (Gogoi) is fantastic, he is a star; he is better than some of the international strikers across the ISL teams. He is absolutely outstanding, and he is mercurial. His shot-taking ability, his decision-making ability is brilliant and I think he is the Agla Hero.”
To deepen the impact, two regional campaigns have been launched in football heartlands, Kolkata and Keralas.
In Kolkata, the campaign is led by captains of three clubs: Subhasish Bose, star defender of Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Cleiton Silva, Captain of East Bengal FC, and Samad Ali Mallick, Captain of Mohammedan Sporting Club. Each of these football stalwarts embody the spirit of Kolkata football, inspiring the next generation to rise to the challenge. A new chapter of glory in Bengal’s football begins here
In Kerala, Hockey Legend PR Sreejesh and Football legend IM Vijayan lead the campaign, bringing the state’s rich football heritage and the undying fervor for football to the forefront. Watch Kerala’s pride in every stride, here
Indian Super League 2024-25 season will kick off on 13 September 2024, with a marquee clash between ISL League Winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant and ISL Cup Winners Mumbai City FC at 7:30 pm IST at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
ISL will be streamed live free on JioCinema (English, Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam) and telecasted live on Sports 18 — 3 (English, Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam), Asianet Plus (Malayalam). Additionally Sports 18 — 1, Sports 18 — 2 and Sports 18 — Khel will also broadcast live select ISL matches.
