Football in India
The Indian Super League, a tournament just recently recognized by AFC or FIFA, was founded in 2013 in an effort to make football a top sport in India and to make Indian football a major player worldwide. The league operates along the lines of the Twenty20 cricket Indian Premier League, and Major League Soccer of the United States. Unlike the vast majority of football leagues around the world, the ISL does not use the promotion and relegation system. Instead, it uses an American style franchise system in which ten teams were specifically created to participate in the league. Each team in the ISL is composed of players from I league or state league, apart from the foreigners who may or may not be a part of the I league. Recently it was recognised as the second national league in India, which means ISL champions from 2017–2018 leagues will be eligible for an AFC Cup qualifying slot
Manipur State League
The Manipur State League (MSL) has been organised since 2006 by the All Manipur Football Association under the Vision India program with guidance from the AFC and the AIFF. It is the top football competition of Manipur. The league is a 12 team affair which is played on a home-and-away format over a period of six to eight months. It operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Winners-Cup. The duration of the league depends on factors like weather and political stability in the state. NISA from Thangmeiband have won four times in MSL and Tiddim Road Athletic Union from Kwakeithel won two times. The 2016 Manipur State League kicked off on 24 August 2016. The opening match was played bettwen Nambul Mapal ACO vs Sagolband United where Sagolband won over Nambul Mapal ACO.
Prize money for 10th Manipur State League. Amounts in Indian rupee.