AIFF secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran (second from left) with president Shaji Prabhakaran (centre) along with FIFA officials on Wednesday. Photo Credit: @IndianFootball
A four-member FIFA panel held separate meetings with SAI director general Sandeep Pradhan, states FAs, new AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey and secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran to take stock of the state of the game in India, host of the U-17 Women’s World Cup. News A four-member FIFA delegation is in India to take stock of the state of the game of football in the country They would hold meetings with all stakeholders of Indian football India are hosts of the U-17 Women’s World Cup, which begins on Oct 11.
Indian football’s state associations highlighted the need for infrastructural development apart from a holistic coach and referee education programme for improved grassroots development, in a meeting with FIFA delegates in New Delhi on Wednesday. A four-member FIFA panel held separate meetings with Sports Authority of India (SAI) director general Sandeep Pradhan, states FAs, new All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey and secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran to take stock of the state of the game in India, host of the U-17 Women’s World Cup.
It was the first visit of FIFA officials since India were banned by the world body in August for failing to toe their guidelines, reinstating their membership once AIFF conducted its lone pending fresh elections and a new committee came to power in September, prior to the U-17 World Cup that begins from October 11.
Focus on grassroots
“FIFA delegates asked all states to enlighten them about plans of individual states for development and three main challenges the states are facing in developing the sport,” a state official present at the meeting told News9 Sports. He didn’t wish to be named.
“The states unanimously said their focus is on grassroots development. The need to improve infrastructure was also pointed out by some states.
“Apart from it, the need for more coach and referee education programmes was also highlighted by the states.
At least six states were present in the meeting with FIFA delegates. The FIFA team are on a three-day visit, where they would also meet with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and other ministry officials to deliberate on developmental projects.
“The states are happy with FIFA’s initiative to touch base, close on the heels of the new AIFF executive committee taking charge,” the official added.
“The need to improve the state of women’s football was also emphasised by some states.
Meeting with stakeholders
Meetings with national coach Igor Stimac, Indian Super League (ISL), I-League clubs and AIFF’s commercial partners (FSDL) are also in the agenda of the FIFA delegates.
“The focus of the meeting was to understand the practical problems the State FAs face in promoting the game across various sectors of the country. The meeting evolved around the strategies to meet the challenges ahead and instruments to overcome them,” an AIFF statement said. After coming to power, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey spoke of creating a new roadmap within 100 days of taking charge. And the AIFF is working on it, which is expected to be disclosed in December.
“Our focus is to implement the planned roadmap, and it is a huge encouragement for us that the FIFA-AFC delegation has come to India for a discussion on the same,” Prabhakaran said the statement.