The All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Mr. Praful Patel launched AIFF’s 2nd Strategic Plan in Mumbai on Saturday, March 2, 2019 along with Theodore Giannikos, FIFA Director, Member Association Services, and Sanjeevan Balasingham, FIFA Director, Member Associations Asia & Oceania.

The first copy was handed over to both the FIFA Directors by Mr. Patel.

Similar to the 1st plan, the 2nd Plan has been developed after several months of discussions with key stakeholders of Indian Football. Learnings and shortcomings from executing the 1st Plan were considered in formalizing the key targets.

Furthermore, data from the last 2.5 years (post digitization) were analysed in detail to identify key success factors and improve the quality of delivery of the development programs in future.

Similar to the first edition, the 2nd edition is also for a period of 4 years, from January 2019 to December 2022 with the primary objective of aligning it with the next cycle of FIFA Forward (January 2019 to December 2022). FIFA Forward, is the new system of development funding provided by FIFA to its Member Associations.

Objectives and targets in this 4-year Plan have been set keeping in mind the long-term goals to be achieved for Indian Football over the next 25 years.

The 1st Strategic Plan had identified 13 core areas of focus for the AIFF along with desired outcomes in each of these areas. In the current Plan, 7 key Strategic Goals have been enlisted on which the AIFF shall work across the 13 core areas that were previously identified.

These strategic goals shall act as the connecting threads between individual developmental projects, and shall align key stakeholders and help define priorities while formulating policies, implementing plans and taking decisions.

1. Competition-oriented Development.

2. Pursue Excellence.

3. Go Local (Capacity Building at State Associations).

4. More Opportunities for Women.

5. Infrastructure and Legacy (including Mega events).

6. Broad-basing the Game.

7. Use of Technology to Fast-track Growth.

(AIFF Media)