CHENNAI: The the management of Viva Chennai club, a Chennai Football Association (CFA) senior division league team, is reportedly set to make a bid for an entry into the I-League second division.
The team could be the second from the state after Chennai City FC to feature in the country’s domestic flight, if it wins its bid on October 4, Sportstar reports.
“That’s where the idea stemmed from. The only way to improve is to keep playing competitive matches as often as possible. It will help the players grow and can shape careers,” Viva Chennai coach CM Ranjith told the sports magazine.
The former Tamil Nadu coach added that financial constraints prevented the management from bidding to the top division. “We already have Chennai City FC in the top flight. We thought the logical way was to get entry into the second division, get some exposure under our belt and gradually progress to the first division,” Ranjith noted.
The last date for bidding is October 4 and Ranjith said the CFA, under which Viva Chennai is registered, has offered all help. “In the end, it helps the sport grow in the state. That’s the larger picture and the state association has been helping us to the maximum possible extent,” he added.
With the rule of having no foreigners in the second division of the I-League, domestic players get a boost as the division acts as a feeder for clubs in the first division, which will run concurrently with the glitzy Indian Super League.
Sportstar, quotes sources as informing that the I-League second division could be an 18-team to 20-team affair.
