For the first time in India, Venky’s London Limited team Blackburn Rover Football Club will be seen battling it out with Ashok Piramal Group’s Pune Football Club on Friday, October 7 in Pune. Football fans are thrilled about the Blackburn Rovers playing in the country. This is a great opportunity, not only for the international teams tapping the Indian market but also for the scope of football in our country. “Pune Football Club has made rapid strides to make it to the top since its inception in 2007,” says sports science student, Archit Navandar.
Many fans are disappointed that the Rovers’ are invited to play this game during the Barcley’s Premier League. This being an important tournament for football fanatics. “Had they conducted this match as an opening to the BPL, it would have worked better,” says Ritheesh Shetty, business response executive.
Many youngsters are hooting for Michel Salgado from Blackburn Rovers who is a title winning champion and “Watching him live is a dream come true,” says Nikhil Rane, manager of Human Resources. A star performer on the Pune team (Red Lizards) will be Jeje Lalpekhlua on the Pune team. Kaushik Lakshman, football enthusiast says, “I am definitely hooting for Michel but am also looking forward to watching Yacouba Bamba from the Rovers.”
Archit feels that this match will generate revenue for the club. He adds, “It gives passionate Indian football fans a chance to meet premier league stars. It can also set a trend in the country of premier league teams playing here.” Fans are also appreciative of the fact that the match is not in Kolkata but in the West for the first time ever.
Ritheesh is highly upset about the way Steve Kean, manager of the Blackburn Rovers. Kean is doing nothing to keep his promise of matching the Rovers’ to Arsenal or Manchester United. “Considering it is the most famous Indian owned foreign investment, Rovers deserve better treatment,” he adds.