Panaji: FC Goa have company in the Indian Super League (ISL) for the first time with Churchill Brothers FC finding their way into the top tier of Indian football.Tata Steel on Friday approved the transfer of its entire 100% stake in Jamshedpur FC to Churchill. The sporting license that allowed Jamshedpur to compete in the ISL since 2017 has also been transferred to the Goan club, paving the way for the two-time I-League champions to play in ISL this season.Churchill’s elevation means there will be two Goan clubs in ISL for the first time. A much-needed Goan derby.“The more Goan clubs there are in top division competition, the better it is for Goan football,” said FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskur. “I am sitting in a position of somebody who is working in Goan football, and Goan football, right now, could do with a shot in the arm. If two clubs mean there’s elevated interest in the sport, more kids wanting to play the game, we are all for it. I think there’s enough in the state for us to split in terms of fan bases, resources, and everything. The club does not want to be sitting on a small territory and be the king of something that is crumbling all around. Churchill’s entry is good for Goan football.”Started in 2014 as a three-month franchise-based league, ISL had a one-state-one-team model. When teams were allowed to move higher on sporting merit, exclusivity was never going to last.If it’s Churchill Bros today, it could be five-time national league champions Dempo SC tomorrow.“At a time when Dempo were dominating Indian football, Salgaocar easily coexisted with them. Churchill Brothers themselves were there during that period, besides Sporting Clube de Goa, and even Vasco. There’s enough space for everybody to co-exist. I don’t think Goa is so small that only one football club can fit in it. If Dempo gets promoted (after winning the Indian Football League), we would have more teams. Fans will support whoever they like,” said Puskur.ISL is expected to kick off on Oct 10.
