Unlike its cricket counterpart, the big-money IPL, the IFL is the brainchild of four friends, all football players themselves, who pool their resources to conduct this prize-money event without any financial or administrative support from the government.

Interestingly, not even a policeman was around for “crowd control” as the matches, that start at 8.30 pm, continued till 11.30 pm.

By the time the second game starts after the interval, the ground gets virtually packed. A good roar from the crowd approves every good move from either side.

Though ongoing Zila Parishad and Panchayat elections are a factor, still the response has been overwhelming. Many prefer to be part of action here than watch IPL matches on TV at home.

There are no Bollywood stars or cheerleaders here. Still the inflow of football enthusiasts continues throughout till the end of the last game.

The organisers — Gurkanwal (an NRI from Canada), Navdeep Bains, Manjinder Singh and Mohammed Akbar — started this unique experiment of taking football — the craze of this advanced rural belt — to the people in their free time last year.

Starting with eight teams last year, they have 14 teams this year and the winners carry home a cash prize of Rs 22,000 while the second best team gets Rs 17,000.

“Since all players are free from their respective clubs and people are also free after harvesting their wheat crop, we thought it to be the best time of the year to conduct this tournament,” said Gurkanwal.

“Since there is an acute shortage of power in the region, we use diesel-run generators for the floodlights. This is our major expense. Besides the generator, we also have temporary mercury lamps to lit up the playing arena,” reveals Gurkanwal saying that they four take the bills.

“Though we do not ask for any funds from anyone, some ardent fans volunteer to donate and contribute towards the conduct of the tournament. The games are conducted strictly according to the rules,” he adds.

The organisers had spent a huge amount on re-laying the playfield. It is not a lush green playfield. “We want it to be the best football playfield in Punjab,” adds Gurkanwal.

Each participant team has a distinct playing kit and can have as many players in its contingent as it likes. Free substitution is permitted because a shorter playfield and fewer players generate tremendous pace.

The participants are allowed to include any player of the village or area irrespective of the club or team he otherwise represents at the National Football League. Of Kaharpur that lost last night, one of their players is a member of Churchill Brothers (Goa) while the other plays for Sporting Clube, also of Goa.

Then there are players from Mohammedan Sporting, Mohun Bagan, JCT Mills, Punjab Police, Punjab State Electricity Board, Churchill Brothers, Vasco Club and a few other teams playing in the IFL here.

Like IPL, the games played are a shorter version of the actual game. The playfield is 70 m by 50 m and the duration of the match is two halves of 30 minutes each with a break of five minutes.

This shorter version makes the game increasing interesting, fast and absorbing as was evident from the pace generated by four teams that featured in last night’s matches.