MUMBAI: Actor-model John Abraham, owner of Indian Super League franchise NorthEast United FC (NEUFC), appears to be on course to deliver on one of two assertions he had made when the ISL launched four years ago.
At the time, he had stated that he expects his team to achieve break-even within three to four years and and that it would be the first of the original eight ISL teams to do so as all plans were being made with a close watch on P&Ls.
Speaking at a press conference in Guwahati on Saturday, Abraham asserted he remained confident of NEUFC becoming the first team in the ISL to break even.
Abraham said the NEUFC’s template of working on economies of scale, preferring local sponsors, reasonable ticket pricing and working with grass root talent has worked very well and is cited as a model template within the ISL as well.
While NEUFC already has tie-ups with two football clubs in Shillong and Manipur, a third tie-up with a club in Mizoram is also in the offing. Abraham, also the brand ambassador of Arunachal Pradesh, revealed he is planning a venture in that North-East state as well, without divulging details.
NEUFC has selected 48 youngsters from Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Manipur for trainig them at its residential academy coming up in Shillong.
