National Football League India: Meaning and History
Indian football clubs competed in the National Football League (NFL), a league tournament. Read to know more about the NFL and its history in India.
The NFL was India’s first national football league, established under the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) in 1996. Later, in 1997, the AIFF introduced a second tier. Shortly after, in 2006, the governing body created a third division. For the 2007–08 season, the I-League eventually took the place of the NFL in an effort to professionalize sports in India.
In addition to league play, NFL clubs would compete in the Federation Cup and Durand Cup, the two major domestic cup tournaments. The Super Cup matchup between the Federation Cup winner and the NFL champion would also feature the NFL champions. The state-based Santosh Trophy competition welcomed NFL players as competitors.
History
The All-India Football Federation, which oversees football in India, established the National Football League in 1996. The league’s goal was to advance the growth of the game in the nation. Punjab’s JCT Mills won the league’s maiden season. With 14 goals at the time, Indian international Bhaichung Bhutia led the league in scoring. In 1997, the AIFF launched the NFL’s second level to complement the Premier Division. The inaugural champions of the second division were the Kolkata team Tollygunge Agragami.
The AIFF introduced the under-19 league in 2001 to aid in the development of young Indian athletes. East Bengal would be declared winners in the under-19 league’s maiden season. The under-19 league only ran for three seasons in 2001, 2002-03, and 2004-05. When held, the AIFF also fielded the India under-16 team in the league.
East Bengal became the first Indian team to win an Asian-level competition in July 2003 when they won the 2003 ASEAN Club Championship, making NFL history. The AIFF introduced the third division before the 2006–07 season, which was effectively merely the second division’s playoffs.
East Bengal became the first Indian team to win an Asian-level competition in July 2003 when they won the 2003 ASEAN Club Championship, making NFL history. The AIFF introduced the third division before the 2006–07 season, which was effectively merely the second division’s playoffs. Following the conclusion of the current season, the AIFF declared that the NFL would be dissolved and the I-League, a new, fully-professional league, will take its place for the 2007–2008 campaign. The last NFL champions were Dempo.
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