It was an unforgettable weekend for Raj Athwal. On Friday night, the only British chief executive of an Indian Super League (ISL) club, Odisha FC, watched them beat Kerala Blasters 2-1 to reach the last four of the Championship playoffs in the most dramatic fashion. On Sunday, he then saw his beloved Coventry City, where he worked for over a decade, lose to Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals in the narrowest fashion.
Wembley outdid Kalinga Stadium in the drama and excitement stakes, but not by much. With three minutes remaining, Odisha were a goal down and a fine season was coming to an end.
“My mind was in overdrive contemplating the busy pre-season ahead dealing with the owners, coach and other important activities,” said Athwal. “But then everything changed.” Diego Maurício equalised to take the game into extra time and then Isak Vanlalruatfela won it with a similarly well-worked goal.
In the short term it means a first semi-final for the eastern Indian outfit – who became Odisha’s first professional club in 2019, five years after the ISL was formed – and a chance to become champions of India. If the Juggernauts are one of the newest teams in the world’s most populous country, then Tuesday’s opponents have a much longer history. Formed in 1889, Mohun Bagan have a huge fanbase in Kolkata and surrounding areas, with over 61,000 turning up for the last game of the regular season when they secured top spot. “They are massive but we are looking forward to it,” said Athwal, whose parents arrived in England from India in the 1960s.
Athwal headed to south Asia after 25 years working on the commercial side with Coventry, Watford and Rangers. “I have tried to adopt a UK-European model of infrastructure on and off the pitch and there is a lot of hard work that goes behind the scenes, and we have changed structures,” he said. And it seems to be working. “Three years ago, we came bottom. Then we came mid-table and it was the playoffs last season.” There was also the 2023 Super Cup victory which resulted in qualification for Asia’s second tournament, the AFC Cup, and a place in the knockout stages.
Much praise is given to the head coach Sergio Lobera, a former Barcelona assistant who had worked at two City Football Group clubs, Mumbai City – who are playing Goa in the other semi-final – and Sichuan Jiuniu in China. “He looks to win every game, he is top class both tactically and in terms of motivation,” said Athwal. “There’s been a tactical masterclass from the coach. There is a mentality about the club this season and if we can get to the final or win it, that would be everything for Odisha.”
It could take football in a state of over 40 million people to the next level. Football has a long history in the subcontinent, especially in places such as Kolkata, Kerala and Hyderabad. Odisha has not traditionally been one of those hotbeds but, just as the club have serious ambitions, so does the state, which wants to become the sporting capital of India. Progress is being made and, thanks to investments of over $250m (£203m), it now boasts the world’s biggest hockey stadium, an aquatics centre, India’s first indoor athletics arena and plenty more besides.
“The sports complex has everything. Facilities are second to none and on a par with Europe,” said Athwal. “The medical centre for players is world renowned. The football facilities are the best in India. The national team trains here.”
As Odisha go from strength to strength, the ISL is also growing. Eight teams and less than three months of football in 2014 have expanded to 12 and over seven respectively. With his commercial background, Athwal sees plenty of potential in the club and the country of 1.4 billion.
“We should use the IPL [Indian Premier League] as an inspiration and not a threat and learn from how they do things,” said Athwal. “Football is on the verge of being massive. People here are passionate and patriotic and, if you can just get a couple of things right in this sport, then great things can happen. There are 200-300 million football fans in India, that’s more than Europe.”
Despite the progress made, there is still much to do. Athwal wants more emphasis on the grassroots to give children and teenagers more opportunities to play. He would also like to see clubs get bigger portions of the broadcasting pie, so long as the funds are used to invest, and for the sake of what could be gamechanging World Cup appearances he joins others in calling for the national team be able to select players of Indian heritage.
For a few days, however, all that can wait. Now it is time for the biggest game in Odisha’s history. “If we win and go to the final, I will be crying but, whatever happens, the journey will not be over.”
