Reliance Foundation Chairman Nita Ambani has never shied away from helping the needy. The Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) supported organization was one of the first organizations on ground when floods struck Uttarakhand in 2013 and has constantly been a bastion of relief to many underprivileged children in Mumbai.
With Reliance Foundation’s involvement in the IMG-Reliance Indian Super League (ISL), Mrs. Ambani has taken on a different role. She’s no stranger to the world of sport though, having seen the rise of IPL team Mumbai Indians. On the cusp of the ISL, Nita Ambani is enthusiastic about the impact the Indian Super League could have on football and sports in general across the nation.Football is surely going to get some airtime in an already growing market on account of the commitment of the stakeholders –IMG Worldwide, Reliance Industries, Star India and the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Speaking at the launch of the ISL, Mrs. Ambani commented, “It is with great pride that I welcome the eight League Partners to the Indian Super League. We want to unlock the unbound aspirational energy of our youth through grassroots and community development programs. Together, we will strive to build a vibrant ecosystem that will provide impetus to football in India. As mentor of the league, I commit myself to the development of football as a major sport for the youth of India.”
Football’s Growth in India:
The final announcement of 8 cities where the matches will be hosted and crucially, of the eight partners who will oversee the growth and expansion of the league is the first major step towards setting the pace for the realization of a dream that would see India finally embrace football. “Today’s announcement is the culmination of several years of hard work and strategic planning,” said Michael Dolan, Chairman and Chief Executive of IMG and Chairman of IMG Reliance.
The IMG Chairman also expressed his happiness with the enthusiastic response the proposed league is getting from the mainstream media as well as the fans on the streets. At the grassroots level, ISL presents a chance for many talented young footballers of India to play and learn from their heroes such as Michael Owen, Thierry Henry, Hernan Crespo, etc. It’s no doubt that the league signals the beginning of a new era in the development of football in India and, in the future, will be the source of great pride for the people of India. The Indian Super League desires to position itself among the best footballing competitions across the world.