Will Premier League Soccer kick off?

MUMBAI: As the hype and hoopla surrounding its launch fizzled out, the Premier League Soccer that was expected to take Indian football by storm has got some reality check as the tournament has been postponed for the second time in a row.

The non-cooperation of the West Bengal government and the under-preparedness of the venues have emerged as the prime reasons for the postponement.

PLS was originally expected to kick-off on 24 March but was postponed to 20 April due to unavailability of stadias. But as the problem persists, it seems the PLS will have to wait till at least August after the Fifa transfer window ends to stage the tournament.

When contacted, Celebrity Management Group CEO Dharamdutt Pandey said: ?PLS will be held only after August when the Fifa transfer window ends. By that time all the six stadiums would also have been refurbished. We will sit and finalise a new date with the IFA (Indian Football Association).?

What about the likely impact of the postponement on international players who would have second thoughts about participating in the league?

Pandey affirmed that CMG has officially written to all the players. "They have been kept in the loop about the developments and as of now none of the players have pulled out. In case, any of the iconic players pull-out the organisers will have a replacement ready," he said.

He also claimed that most of the franchises have supported CMG despite the issues that cloud the league. He went on to say that the franchises are happy since they will have more time to prepare themselves for the inaugural edition of the league.

Without naming, he said that one of the franchises is not happy with the uncertainty. He refused to reveal the identity of the franchise. He also revealed that all the six venues will be upgraded with the dressing room, turf and the floodlights being the top-most priority.

Earlier, the PLS had faced its first major roadblock when All India Football Federation had asked Fifa to suspend the Transfer Matching System account of the franchises over the ambiguity in the registration of franchises.

The issue was later sorted out after the IFA assured the parent body that the PLS clubs were recognised by it following which the clubs were allowed to seek transfer of international players through TMS.

The PLS will involve six teams -- Kolkata Camelians, Barasat Euro Musketeers, Durgapur Vox Champions, Howrah Manchester, Bengal Tuskers and Team Haldia, whose name is yet to be finalised. The six franchises had collectively put more than Rs 1 billion in buying the teams and signing players.

The league boasted of star players like Hernan Crespo, Jay Jay Okocha, Robert Pires and Fabio Cannavaro besides a host of other international players and coaches. The international media rights for the league were sold to MP & Silva.