The Football Players' Association of India (FPAI), which looks after the interests of the country’s professional footballers, is hoping that the upcoming Hero Indian Super League (ISL) will be a roaring success. Several FPAI members will be participating in the upcoming mega event and trooping out for various clubs.

“We’re hoping that the ISL is a success because anything that is good for players is good for us, as that is our main concern and area of interest,” explained Cyrus Confectioner, general manager, FPAI, who was present at the ISL domestic player draft in an observer’s capacity.

Formed in 2006 by Baichung Bhutia, who was also president until he stepped down in early 2014, the FPAI has come a long way by making the players aware of their rights, safeguarding these rights, and advancing the players’ interests. But the genial Kolkata-based Confectioner, who has ample experience in sports management and football administration (he was football manager at Mohammedan Sporting for five years), feels a lot more could still be done.

“Our main objective is to have a standard contract for players across all clubs. Previously, it used to be very lopsided in favour of the clubs. The players never used to get paid, or when they were injured they were treated badly,” he revealed. “Now, things are much better. The clubs have also become aware that you have got to treat your players right; you can’t mistreat them and get away with it all the time.”

A good hockey player in his younger days who was intimately involved with the Bengal Hockey Association, Confectioner reveals that the next FPAI move is to go to all the clubs and educate the players about their future. Investment advice is also a key sector. “Nowadays, players are earning big money but their shelf life is small. So they have got to save that money for the future. So our next move is to take some investment experts along to the clubs, people whom we know and trust, who will not take the players for a ride,” he stated.

A recent initiative by the FPAI was a C license coaching course in Goa in June that was attended by several current and former players. “We have to ensure that they have something to do and have the ability to look after themselves after their playing career is over,” he said.