Close on the heels of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) signing an agreement under the Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) with the Football Federation of Australia (FFA), Anthony Frost, an experienced Grassroots Instructor from Melbourne, will be conducting the AIFF-FFA Grassroots Leaders Course in Mumbai from January 27 to 29.

It was in October 2013 that the AIFF had signed the agreement with the FFA in what is a one-of a kind agreement between two federations for cooperation and support. The course is the first initiative between the two federations after signing the agreement.

The agreement includes financial, administrative and technical support (from FFA) in the form of capacity building within the State Associations currently involved in the Grassroots Programme, Grassroots Courses and Grassroots Festivals, among many such activities.

Mark Pierce, Australian Consul General in Mumbai, welcomed the exchange of skills, experience and expertise involved in the exchange, and looked forward to its further development.

Suvrat Thatte, Development Manager, Grassroots, AIFF stays confident the course will benefit Indian football a lot. “It’s not merely about the course but more about the agreement. We look forward to FFA’s guidance and technical expertise which I’m confident will help enrich Indian football in the near future,” he told AIFF Media.

Mark Falvo, General Manager, International Affairs, FFA believes that the initiative will bring the two countries closer together. “Football is a shared passion for Australia and India. As fellow members of the AFC, we are honoured to play a part in assisting AIFF to realize the great potential of football in India.”

AIFF’s Grassroots Programme has further received a shot in the arm when AFC had nominated the AIFF GR Programme among the top-three among all Asian countries in 2013.

The AIFF-FFA Grassroots Leaders Course being held in Mumbai is part of the program which will see FFA instructors conduct grassroots courses in India supported by AIFF grassroots instructors. The Western India Football Association (WIFA) will be hosting the course.

The AIFF Grassroots Programme is designed for kids (boys & girls) between 6 to 12 years of age. It is primarily driven through the State Football Associations and is tailor made incorporate all stakeholders such as clubs (amateur and professional), schools and community football initiators.”

(Report & Picture courtesy AIFF Media)