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When friends turn foes as ISL trophy is launched

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ISL marquee players Fredrik Ljungberg (Mumbai City FC), David James (Kerala Blasters FC), David Trezeguet (FC Pune), Robert Pires (FC Goa), Alessandro Del Piero (Delhi Dynamos FC), Joan Capdevila (NorthEast United FC), Luis Garcia (Atletico de Kolkata) and Mikael Silvestre (Chennaiyin FC) with Nita Ambani in Mumbai on Sunday
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By now, the names of the franchises, their marquee players and the international stars ready to play in the inaugural season of the Indian Super League may be familiar to most football fans. With just a week left for the kickoff, the only thing left for everyone to know was what these footballers playing for. The wait was worth it as the trophy was unveiled at Mumbai amidst the glitz and glamour of the eight marquee players who came together for the first time in the buildup to the competition.

"We're going to aim to be the ones lifting the trophy. It's going to be hard. We have a lot of good names out there. We've played with and against each other over the years, so we know how tough the competition is. Make no mistake, there will be no love lost," said Mumbai FC icon player Freddie Ljungberg.

"It ends right here, right now," said Robert Pires of FC Goa with a wicked smile when asked if his friendship with his former Arsenal team mater Ljungberg could see him go easy. "This is a new country, a new challenge for all of us to learn something. We have a really good team and this lays the platform for further success," said the Frenchman.

One of the major expectations from football lovers across the country is to see the growth of the game at the grassroot level. The same sentiment was shared by Alessandro Del Piero of the Delhi Dynamos FC. "We can't measure the potential this tournament can have on this country if everything goes well. We have a huge responsibility as we have the chance to be an inspiration."

The build-up to the tournament seems to have taken these players by surprise. "Despite the people of the city being busy with Durga Puja, I was amazed to see how many fans turned up to see us practice. That shows you how crazy the city is. There surely cannot be a better place to start the league," said Atletico de Kolkata's Luis Garcia.

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