THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

AIFF nominated for AFC Member Association Award 2016

Praful Patel, President, All India Football Federation (Photo courtesy: AIFF Media)

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been nominated for the AFC Developing Member Association of the Year Award alongwith Vietnam and Malaysia. The award winner will be announced at the AFC Annual Awards 2016 gala event in Abu Dhabi, UAE on December 1, 2016.

The prestigious award is given to a Member Association in recognition of its professional administration and governance as well as its exceptional contribution to the development and promotion of the game at all levels within the country. This includes Grassroots and Youth Development Work, Women’s Football Development and Social Responsibility.

With India hosting its first ever FIFA World Cup next year, the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017, Indian football is undergoing a mega revolution spearheaded by vigorous football development at the Grassroots level.

The All India Football Federation conducted 20 AIFF Grassroots Leaders Courses in 2016, while 600 Grassroots Coaches were trained and 12 States implemented the AIFF Grassroots philosophy by setting up Grassroots Centres.

To beef up the number of AFC Licensed Coaches present in the nation, the AIFF conducted 29 AFC Courses inclusive of two AFC A License Courses, five AFC B License Courses, 20 AFC C License Courses and two AFC Goalkeeping Level 1 Courses. 210 Coaches became AFC Certified through the abovementioned Coaching Courses.

Extending the horizons of Women’s Football in the nation, the AIFF as part of the FIFA Live Your Goals campaign conducted six courses across the nation in five states, alongwith four FIFA Courses exclusive only for Women – FIFA Women’s Administrative Course, FIFA Introductory Goalkeeping Course, FIFA Refreshers Course, and the FIFA Youth Course, which is slated to commence in December.

The FIFA Live Your Goals campaign exclusive only for girls brought forth 240 new Women Grassroots Coaches in 2016. AIFF also conducted 13 Grassroots Festivals under the Live Your Goals project wherein more than 1000 girls were trained in the basics of Grassroots Football.

Meanwhile, 40 Academies applied for Academy Accreditation to play in the U-16 and U-18 Youth Leagues of AIFF, out of which 26 passed, increasing the base of the player pyramid structure in the nation.

The nomination for the AFC Member Association (Developing) Award 2016 is a statement of the fact that Indian football is in the right direction and good tidings are on their way for India.

(Report & Photo courtesy: AIFF Media)