Photo Courtesy: AIFF Media

Keen on restructuring and laying a path for development of State Associations, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is launching a pilot project in seven State Associations.

The Project kicks-off in Kolkata with the Indian Football Association (IFA) and would be followed by visiting the other five provisional venues for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup namely Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Kochi and Guwahati. In addition, Mizoram Football Association (MFA) has also been included in the Project for their involvement at the Grassroots and Youth Development.

All India Football Federation General Secretary Kushal Das mentioned that the Project is a part of the Four Years “AIFF Strategic Plan.”

“As per the Four Years Strategic Plan created with the help of FIFA, it was clear that the capacities of the State Associations need to be improved significantly for the development of Indian football. Accordingly it was decided that the capacities of the six State Associations which are the provisional venues must be enhanced to start off with,” Das told AIFF Media.

“Furthermore, as the Mizoram Football Association has put in a tremendous effort to start the revolution at the Grassroots and Youth Development, they too have been included as part of the Development Plan,” he added.

The initiative is fully supported by FIFA.

“The onus is now on the respective State Associations to ensure they work together with FIFA and AIFF for the development of Indian football.”

The AIFF had in the first week of July advertised positions for the post of Technical Officers (in all the seven State Associations) and Director, Marketing & Operations (except for Mumbai), the response of which has been overwhelming and interviews are to be conducted shortly.

The AIFF would be paying the salaries for aforesaid posts for a year guiding and expecting the State Associations to become self sustainable and script own success after a year.

The entire Plan has been endorsed by the AIFF Executive Committee and AIFF and FIFA would be conducting visits to each of the selected State Associations to discuss the implementation of the plan. The stakeholders include the local Association, Government, top Division clubs and ex-players.

(Report & Photo Courtesy AIFF Media)