ഐഎസ്എൽ 2026-27: സുനിൽ ഛേത്രിക്കും റയാൻ വില്യംസിനും ബെംഗളൂരു എഫ്സിയെ കിരീടത്തിലേക്ക് നയിക്കാനാകുമെന്ന് കാൽഡീറ

Ahead of the new Indian Super League (ISL) season, there is a palpable sense of optimism in Indian football -- and at the heart of it sits a structural shift that few saw coming just a few years ago. The clubs, long accustomed to being passengers in their own league, are now firmly in the driver's seat.

"I think everyone is pretty excited about the new model," says Bengaluru FC CEO Darren Caldeira, speaking ahead of ISL 2026-27. "In some way the clubs also feel they finally have control over things -- whether it's production, sponsorship, broadcast. We are in the driver's seat right now, having those sorts of conversations, of course, with FSDL and all the good work they did previously."

"It was more about the clubs participating and being part of the entire league, but now a lot of the commercial risk as well sits with the clubs," he explains. "So we need to make sure the league runs well; we need to do our due diligence; we need to have these conversations. There's an SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) being formed, but we're also going to have a central team as well."

While the league's structural evolution represents the future, there's someone who represents the present -- of club and Indian football: Ryan Williams.

The Australia-born striker has become a talisman in the Indian jersey, scoring against Hong Kong on his debut and then against Panama last month. He also aided in India's goal against Uruguay in their recent match. And all of it began with him switching his passport from that of Australia to an Indian one.

"I remember whenever I spoke to Ryan, he never seemed fazed," Caldeira recalls. "There were a lot of times paperwork came back, and there were a lot of queries; he had to send additional paperwork. But he just seemed unfazed.

"He was always like, 'I'm going to get through this, I'm going to get it done.' There were a lot of people who had doubts and said, 'Listen, it's never going to happen.' But if anybody, it was Ryan who completely believed in it 100 per cent."

The club supported him through the process as much as they could, and were fortunate that the breakthrough came while he was playing for Bengaluru FC. Williams joined in 2023, has become an integral part of the squad, and now plays for the national team.

"He's kind of more Indian than a lot of Indians I know as well," Caldeira laughs. "If you watch him eat a biryani right now with his hands, you'll just be amazed."

Williams is not the only player to find a home at the club. India centre-back Chinglensana Singh, who lost his ISL winners' medal during the Manipur riots around his home in 2023, was gifted a replica by club captain Sunil Chhetri in December 2024.

"It shouldn't happen to anyone -- losing your home in that manner. We kind of gave him a sort of footballing home, if I were to say," Caldeira says.

Since arriving, Sana has been "fantastic in the dressing room, with the coaching staff, with our fans -- somebody who keeps the group close together." And on a personal note, Caldeira adds: "He's been through difficult times, and I'm always only wishing the best for him. He's built a new home for himself, he's got a partner, and he'll be married soon. Only wishing him the best."

For Caldeira, who was part of Bengaluru FC back in 2013-14 when the club first started, the ethos that drives the club today is the same one that drove it then: togetherness.

"It's always been a club where we always felt like, if we can stick together, we'll be successful on the pitch," he says.

"When we talk about a community club and our relationship with players, it goes beyond just contracts and performances," Caldeira says. "There's a lot more to it. That's the reason why a lot of players want to stick around, want to join us -- because they hear of these stories."

There are stories, and then, there is Sunil Chhetri -- a name synonymous with Bengaluru FC, Indian football, and an almost obsessive commitment to professionalism.

"He has been there since day one. He is there with us right now. He's loved by the fans, by the ownership, by everybody at the football club. Hopefully, he has a very, very successful season because he's somebody who absolutely deserves it," Caldeira says.

But age, eventually, catches up with everyone. Chhetri, at 42, has retired from international football. How much longer can he continue for BFC?

"As of now, even if you speak to Sunil, he wouldn't even want to discuss anything post-football," Caldeira says. "His focus right now is so much on the game and what he has to offer. Maybe he doesn't have the pace that he used to have, but everything there is to offer in terms of off the pitch and even on it, he's still got it."

Bengaluru FC won the ISL Cup in the 2018-19 season but has yet to clinch the title since, reaching the final twice since. But Caldeira believes his team is ready for a fresh start - a new title challenge.

"We're not really there to just participate. Whether it's a tournament or a league, we want to win. We have the players to do it. We have Pep (Munoz as coach) as well, who joined us mid-season last year. He's got a full pre-season now. So, he understands the boys well," Caldeira explains.

Caldeira understands the weight of being associated with the club - one that won the I-League in its first season in professional football and one where he spent three seasons as a player.

"We want to compete. We want to win the Shield. We're working towards that. There's no other way," he says, signing off.