ISL 2017: Iain Hume ready to relocate to India if duration of league is increased
What's the story?
Iain Hume, the Indian Super League's record goalscorer has always been vocal about the quality of the league in India and every issue pertaining to the league. He recently rejoined the Kerala Blasters from ATK and is all set to enthrall the Kochi fans in Season 4. At the recently organized ISL media day in Mumbai, Hume revealed that he is ready to relocate to India with his family if the league becomes an eight/ten-month affair.
Speaking to the press, Hume revealed, "When you play in a five-month league, it is not the best idea to bring your family with you and have them stay at a hotel. I will give it a serious thought (moving to India) if the duration of the tournament is eight to ten months."
In case you didn't know
Increasing the length of the ISL has been on the organizers' mind for a long time and they are expected to implement a longer version in the coming years.
Along with his record of the highest number of goals in the ISL with 23, Hume also holds the record of the most appearances in the Indian Super League with 46 caps.
The heart of the matter
At the event, Hume talked about a lot of aspects such as his connection with the Kerala Blasters which made him re-sign with the club after two seasons with ATK.
He also claimed that the fans in Kerala are the best that he has ever seen and termed the carnival-like atmosphere in the Kochi stadium as unforgettable.
What next?
The former Leicester City striker is also keen on linking with ISL's star acquisition of the season, Dimitar Berbatov and hopes that the strong foreign contingent of the Blasters along with a talented Indian unit can give the Kerala based side their first ever ISL title.
Author's take
Hume's thoughts on bringing his family down to India suggests how far the ISL has come from its inception. From being a two-month tournament featuring some yesteryear stars, the competition has now become a five-month hard fought league which will soon become a year long event.
When that happens, the foreign stars will take the ISL more seriously which will, in turn, help the quality and branding of Indian football.
Also read: ISL 2017: Five players who got relegated after stints in the Indian Super League