In a historic first, the city of Mahilpur, often referred to as the ‘Mecca of Punjab Football’ and the ‘Football Nursery of Punjab’, hosted the first-ever I-League, India’s second-tier professional league after the ISL, on Thursday afternoon.
The match marked a new milestone for the football-crazy city of Punjab, which has produced football legends like the 1962 Asian Games gold medalist Delhi FC’s 3-1 win over Shillong Lajong FC at the city’s newly constructed football stadium. Indian football team defender and Arjuna awardee Jarnel Singh Dhillon, Arjuna awardee and former international Inder Singh, Arjuna awardee Gurdev Singh Gill, and current Indian football players such as Indian team and Odisha FC goalkeepers Amarinder Singh, Manveer Singh and Anwar Ali.
Harjinder Singh, 81-year-old son of Arjuna awardee and Punjab Football Association secretary Inder Singh, was also present to watch the historic match on Thursday. “My father Inder Singh could not go from Phagwara to watch the match due to health reasons. But he used to ask me about the field and the game. This is a historic game for Mahilpur. My father used to play local games when he came from Phagwara. He often speaks about the late Jarnell Singh Dhillon and Gurdev Singh Gill. As Gurdev Singh is in Canada these days, it must be a joy from heaven to see Jarnell Singh achieve this historic feat,” said Harjinder Singh while talking to The Indian Express after the match.
Delhi FC will play their 12 home matches at the new stadium after Thursday’s match. Odisha FC and Indian football team goalkeeper Amarinder Singh, who hails from Namolian village near Mahilpur and is currently in the Indian football team, also watched the match. Another former footballer from Punjab, Harnandan Singh Khabra, who was part of the Punjab team that won the National Games in 1987, was also in the spectators’ stands. His son Harmanjot Khabra, who has captained East Bengal and played for ISL clubs Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters, played for Delhi FC.
After Thursday’s match, Delhi FC will play their 12 home matches at the new stadium. (Express Photo)
“In the 1980s, we all used to travel from Kaharpur village near Mahilpur to play in cities like Ludhiana or Chandigarh. Although Mahilpur has always seen local leagues practice here apart from national players, it has never seen professional league play. To watch the game and see my son Harmanjot play in Mahilpur is a special feeling for all of us,” said Harnandan Singh.
Delhi FC owner Ranjit Bajaj said this is a new chapter in Punjab football and hopes the state can host international matches and clubs in the future. “We thank the Punjab government for supporting us in this endeavour. A crowd of over 8,000 to watch an I-League match here at Mahilpur is a testament to how much Punjabis love football. We are also at this ground. We hope to extend our winning streak. Mahilpur’s place in Indian football is unparalleled and we hope that more talent will emerge from this city for India,” said Bajaj.
Harjinder Singh said, “We hope that Punjab will host the Indian team as well as ISL matches in the coming days.”
In the past, the city organized Mahilpur Football League and Principal Harbhajan Singh Memorial Football Tournament.
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