1996–97 National Football League (India)
The 1996–97 National Football League, also known as the Philips National League for sponsorship reasons, was the inaugural season of the National Football League. The tournament began on 17 December 1996 and concluded on 16 March 1997. Before the commencement, the All India Football Federation maintained that it would be a semi-professional tournament for the first two years.
Federation Cup (India)
The Federation Cup, also known as Hero Federation Cup for sponsorship reasons, was an annual single round robin and knockout style club football tournament in India that started in 1977. From its inception, until I-League was started in 1997 (then called NFL), it was the most prestigious national level club football tournament in India. Until 2017, it was the most important club tournament after the I-League, to which it became a "de facto" League Cup. The winning club of the Federation Cup gained a chance to compete in the continental level in AFC Cup.