Bengal Super League launched – promises to bring Professional Football to rural Bengal

The Bengal Super League (BSL) was officially launched today at a grand event held at The Lalit Great Eastern, Kolkata.

The occasion was graced by dignitaries from the Indian Football Association (IFA) including
IFA President Mr. Ajit Banerjee and Secretary Mr. Anirban Dutta, veteran footballers, and
key representatives from Shrachi Sports including Managing Director Mr. Rahul Todi and
Chairperson Mr. Tamal Ghosal alongside representatives from Zee including Chief Cluster
Officer-East, North & Premium Clusters, ZEEL Mr. Samrat Ghosh and Zee Sports National
Head Mr. Bavesh Janavlekar and prominent members of the West Bengal sporting
fraternity.

The BSL ushers in a new era for district-level football in West Bengal. Licensed by the Indian
Football Association (IFA), this franchise-based tournament aims to revolutionize the local
football ecosystem by bringing in the professionalism and excitement usually associated
with top-tier leagues.
BSL will serve as a significant platform for promoting unidentified local talents of Bengal and
offer valuable opportunities for talent identification and scouting.
Scheduled to kick off in October 2025, the inaugural edition will feature a player draft
system designed to create a fair and competitive platform for emerging talent from across
the state. The tournament will focus on identifying talent while offering an electrifying
atmosphere for football lovers in the districts.

Shrachi Sports as the licensee partner for the Bengal Super League (BSL) for the next 10
years through a formal agreement with the Indian Football Association (IFA) has also
successfully brought on board, Zee Sports (ZEE) to be the official Media Partner.
All BSL matches will be broadcasted live on Zee Bangla Cinema, ensuring wide reach and
high entertainment value for viewers. This collaboration is set to infuse the tournament
with glamour, visibility, and momentum, delivering a compelling blend of football and
entertainment that will resonate with a broad audience.
Furthermore, the high-quality television coverage will offer significant exposure for
participating players, helping them gain recognition within the national football
community.

The league will feature eight teams in this edition, each representing one of West Bengal’s
district-level clusters. Matches will be hosted at four district venues, selected to spark
local interest and drive strong community participation.
At its core, BSL aims to elevate district football by offering it a high-quality, professional
platform, while also promoting the growth of the sport beyond metropolitan centres. With
its unique blend of sporting ambition, entertainment appeal, and regional pride, the
Bengal Super League is set to become a true game-changer for football in West Bengal.
IFA President Mr. Ajit Banerjee congratulated Shrachi Sports and stated that the league
presents a wonderful opportunity to discover an unearth, raw, rural talent, offering them
an unique platform for young footballers to showcase their skills.

IFA Secretary Mr. Anirban Dutta, shared his vision and stated:
BSL is set to revolutionize football in the state by offering a platform for talented players
from every district to shine. By reaching deep into remote regions, the league aims to
unearth hidden gems and bring these uncut diamonds into the mainstream of Indian
football.
“This league will not only draw fans from across districts to the stadiums but will also
establish a successful commercial model, driving the growth and development of football in
Bengal.”
Shrachi Group Managing Director, Mr. Rahul Todi, on the BSL:
“BSL is a landmark moment for Indian and Bengal football. It brings premium football to
every corner of Bengal, the true nursery of Indian football. At Shrachi Sports, growing the
game has always been a priority, and BSL is a major leap forward.”

“With IFA’s vision, players will now get 7–8 months of structured football within Bengal,
along with insurance, just like in the ISL. Many players rely on unorganised matches for
income, often risking injury without any support. BSL changes that, offering not just
opportunity, but protection and livelihood.”
Shrachi Sports Chairperson, Mr. Tamal Ghosal, shared his excitement :
“BSL is the perfect mix of sports and entertainment, that’s what makes it powerful and it’s
set to transform the rural bengal’s football ecosystem.”

He further said:-
“BSL identifies raw talent, gives it the right exposure, and improves lives, a responsibility
we deeply value. More than just a tournament, BSL ensures safety, stability, and sustained
play, tackling the real issues players face. That’s where real change begins.”
“BSL as a tournament works on multiple levels. It targets the unidentified rural talents and
provides them the right exposure. It improves the quality of an individual’s life which we
take as our responsibility in Shrachi Sports.”
Speaking about this association, Zee Sports National Head Mr. Bavesh Janavlekar says,
“We are happy to restart our journey in sports with football and that too in West Bengal!
Bengal Super League’s uniqueness of giving an opportunity to the deeply penetrated
football talent across districts makes it the right content for Zee Bangla Cinema, it being
one of the most penetrated and widely watched channel in West Bengal.
“As we embark on this journey, we aim to create a legacy for all the Bangla football lovers!”