© ISLThe nation’s top footballers are considerably kicked about the positive spin offs that the upcoming Hero Indian Super League (ISL) will generate, ranging from improved infrastructure and better playing conditions to greater rewards and exposure and the chance to play alongside international icons and improve their game.Former India goalkeeper Sandip Nandy, who has donned the gloves for the country’s leading clubs in a glittering 15-year career in the top flight, is very forthright about the impact of the tournament. “Yes I am very excited about the ISL. So are other Indian players and officials because it will be a great opportunity to play alongside top international players,” the evergreen 39-year-old shot stopper from Burdwan in West Bengal said. “To be with them and train alongside them will teach us so much more. The ISL will change the face of Indian football and I hope it is successful.”Nandy, who was picked up by Kerala Blasters FC, has won all the major accolades that the domestic game has to offer, feels that the ISL will make Indian footballers household names across the sub-continent because of the involvement of legendary cricketers like Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar and Bollywood stars.N P Pradeep, who scored the winning goal for India in the 2007 Nehru Cup final versus Syria and was drafted to Club Chennai, is looking forward to improved facilities. “With the arrival of the ISL the facilities in India will improve. Earlier, we used to play under the scorching sun at 3:30 in the afternoon at the Cooperage ground; which is why we could never give our 100%. All that will change,” the versatile attacking midfielder said.Pradeep was a largely an unpolished diamond from the hilly Idukki district in Kerala who first found his groove with State Bank of Travancore before mighty Mahindra United snapped him up. He therefore feels that the promise of grassroots development will be a boon for the budding players of Kerala.“The ISL is saying that there will be a great grassroots-level programme and academies will open. We did not have these opportunities back then,” averred the stocky 31-year-old player. “It was our destiny and that is the only reason we have become players.”“The ISL will surely enhance the financial aspects as well as the infrastructural deficiencies in Indian football. The players need better facilities and grounds like those available abroad and the ISL will provide these.”Climax Lawrence, Atletico de KolkataRenedy Singh, veteran Indian midfielder and president of the Football Players Association of India, is highly optimistic over the refurbishment of stadiums for the event. “When we went to Portugal and played on a third division ground, it was better than the grounds we have here. We have been playing for 10-15 years now and just because they can’t maintain the pitches they are laying astroturf pitches which are better but not good enough. With the ISL we will get better maintained grounds and that is a plus point.”The dead-ball specialist, who will represent Kerala Blasters, highlighted the importance of the grassroots programme and the ability of the ISL to enthuse the masses. “Ten years back there used to be 50,000-60,000 fans who used to come and watch the matches. Now there are only 400-500 people in the stadium. So by bringing in quality players, the ISL will be able to bring back the crowds.”Climax Lawrence, the driving force of the Indian midfield in the recent past, was hopeful of the positive reinforcements the ISL will bring in: “The ISL will surely enhance the financial aspects as well as the infrastructural deficiencies in Indian football. The players need better facilities and grounds like those available abroad and the ISL will provide these.” A role-model for young Goans, Lawrence was drafted to Atletico de Kolkata and was highly excited at the prospect of playing alongside top international players. He expects them to bring in a lot of experience and provide valuable insights for Indian players.Steven Dias, the former international wing half hopes that the greater rewards and opportunities offered by the ISL will prompt more parents to think of football as a “viable option” for their children and the tournament will give the world’s most favourite sport a leg up in the world’s most cricket-obsessed country.The Mumbaikar, who was picked by Delhi Dynamos, also believes that the ISL will help Indian players figure out where they stand whilst also expecting them to learn significant lessons from their high profile foreign colleagues.