New Delhi: The 11^th edition of Hero I-League – India’s top football league, was officially launched at a glittering ceremony here today. This marks the beginning of yet another scintillating season of enthralling league football in the country. The Hero I-League kicks off on November 25, 2017 and culminates on March 6, 2018.

The Hero I-League is set to provide more excitement and inspiring action this year with the addition of three new teams from three different states. The three new additions are – Gokulam Kerala FC from Calicut, Neroca FC from Imphal, Manipur and Indian Arrows from Delhi. With their individual football cultures and heritage, these teams will significantly enhance the reach of the league in the country.

The 11^th edition will also be rewarding for the players with significant prize money at stake for the top teams – Winners (Rs 1 Crore), Runners-Up (Rs 60 Lakh), Third Place (Rs 40 Lakhs) and Fourth Place (Rs 25 Lakhs).

This edition will witness the country’s elite football league returning to the National Capital, with the AIFF developmental team, Indian Arrows, making a comeback. The India U-17 team head coach Luis Norton De Matos of Portugal would be their head coach. The team is a mix of India U-17 and India U-19 team players.

“This year is all about showcasing what the Hero I-League has been doing for years. Launching Indian football’s future stars. History is testimony that the Hero I-League has laid the foundation for Indian football stars to go ahead and shine in their careers and make the country proud. The edition also pays special tribute to the coaches who create those stars with their dedication and commitment towards the beautiful game. We are happy to welcome Kerala back in the league and the return of I-League football to Delhi. I believe these new developments along with the clubs from Northeast, West Bengal, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Goa will make the league even more competitive and interesting. I would like to convey my best wishes to all the participating clubs of this year’s edition,” said Mr. Kushal Das, General Secretary, All India Football Federation.

Commenting on the occasion Mr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, MD and CEO Hero Motocorp said, “Hero has always been a committed promoter of sports across various disciplines, including football. I am pleased to see this game growing in the country, especially amongst the youth. I believe football has the potential to become one of the top sports in the country.  We had a very successful association with the FIFA U-17 World Cup, over the last two months, and we saw the love for the game grow during this period. The Hero I-League is the perfect platform for budding footballers to showcase their skills, and I am sure we will see new talents emerging from this season.”

The 10 teams from eight states of the 11th Hero I-League are – Defending Champions Aizawl FC (Mizoram), Neroca FC (Manipur), ShillongLajong FC (Meghalaya), Mohun Bagan AC &Kingfihser East Bengal (West Bengal), Minerva Punjab (Punjab), Gokulam Kerala FC (Kerala), Churchill Brothers FC Goa (Goa), Indian Arrows (Delhi), Chennai City FC (Chennai).

The first match will kick off on November 25, 2017, between Minerva Punjab and Mohun Bagan in Ludhiana at 17:30 hrs.

About Hero MotoCorp Limited

For the past 16 consecutive years, the New Delhi (India)-headquartered Hero MotoCorp has been the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer in terms of unit volumes sold by a single company in a calendar year. The company sold over 6.66 million two-wheelers in the last financial year (FY’17). Since its inception in 1984, Hero has sold over 75 million motorcycles and scooters in cumulative sales.

Hero MotoCorp currently sells its products in 35 countries across Asia, Africa, and South & Central America. Hero MotoCorp has an annual installed capacity of well over 8 million motorcycles and scooters, spread across seven world-class manufacturing facilities, including five in India and one each in Colombia and Bangladesh.

Hero MotoCorp’s world-class state-of-the-art R&D facility – the Global Centre of Innovation & Technology (CIT) – is situated in Jaipur in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan.

Hero MotoCorp has had a long-running association with global marquee sports for over two decades now. It is a long-term partner of FIH, the apex body of international field hockey, and has earlier been one of the Global Partners of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Hero MotoCorp is the Title sponsor of the Hero Caribbean Premier League T-20 cricket tournament. Hero MotoCorp was also the National Supporter of the recently concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup held in India.

Fourteen-times major winner Tiger Woods is Hero’s Global Corporate Partner. Argentine football legend and current coach of Atletico Madrid, Diego Simeone, is also its Brand Ambassador.