India's record-breaking batsman Sachin Tendulkar says that the inaugural season of the Indian Super League (ISL) is only the beginning of the mission of increasing the popularity of football in the cricket mad country.
"The ISL is already a grand success," Tendulkar, the co-owner of Kerala Blasters, told the ISL's website. "I would like to believe that this is just the beginning and it's only going to get bigger from here.
"The tournament can only get bigger with more dedicated effort towards popularising football in India. ISL is a fantastic platform for youngsters who wish to turn their dreams into reality."
Tendulkar was speaking in the south Indian city of Kochi at half-time of Kerala's 1-0 victory over FC Goa, his team's first home match of the tournament. He compared the atmosphere of Kochi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to that of a game involving the Indian national team.
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"I came here today to watch the football. What we've experienced inside cricket stadiums while playing for India is what we've experienced here today. I have no doubt that people of Kerala will continue to turn out to support their team," said Tendulkar, who is the holder of international batting records such as highest number of runs and centuries.
Tendulkar, nicknamed Master Blaster, was confident of Kerala Blasters' road ahead in the tournament. "Yes, the team has blasted off," he added. "The tournament started on Oct. 12 and it is only now that we are playing our first home game. This is terrific because the team have worked so hard out there playing away, now they're at home and can savour the support of people."
Tendulkar's side are in fifth place on the table, with seven points in six matches.