AIFF bosses get an invitation of training before 2017 U-17 World Cup

In a bid to educate the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to organize a top international football tournament, the United Arab Emirates’ national football association has invited the AIFF bosses to be a part of the UAE football association in its organizing committee.

UAE is going to conduct an international football championship with eight top countries from October 17 to November 6. It has been learnt that following FIFA top brass instruction, UAE has asked five representatives of the AIFF to be a part of its organizing committee for the championship.

According to an AIFF executive, “The reason behind UAE’s invitation to us for their international championship is to educate us about the proper organization of an international tournament. We have come to know FIFA, in its forthcoming executive committee meeting in May, will officially announce that India will be the host of the under-World Cup in 2017. So, FIFA wants us to get trained properly before the 2017 under-17 World Cup is allotted to us.”

The All India Football Federation had conducted tournaments like Nehru Cup, SAF Football championship but it has never conducted such a prestigious football championship like the World Cup. That is why, it has been learnt that following FIFA’s instruction UAE has invited the AIFF officials.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ongoing I-League Sunanda Dhar, when asked about the invitation, admitted stating, “Yes, such invitation has come to us. FIFA wants us to be educated properly to conduct a championship like under-17 World Cup where countries Spain, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, England, and Argentina will be participating. That is why FIFA wants us to join the UAE national association’s organizing committee and learn organizing sills practically. We are happy to receive the invitation from the UAE. This matter will be discussed in our next executive committee meeting that is likely to be held in the second week of May. There it will be finalised which five executives from the Federation can join the UAE national association’s organising committee for the international championship.”

The AIFF top brass is actually waiting for FIFA’s official announcement regarding the under-17 World Cup in 2017. Once the announcement is made, the AIFF will accept the UAE invitation and choose its five representatives for the UAE international championship.

However, the AIFF has been trying to find a commercial partner for its five regional academies. They purpose is to acquire financial support to run the academies as the AIFF gets no separate financial support from its marketing agent for the project. It has been learnt that a Bengaluru based Non-Government-Organization, named Ozon House has expressed desire to be a commercial partner of the Federation’s regional academies.