India wins SAFF Women’s Championship

Women Football has touched its peak with the recent SAFF Championship. The world witnessed a finest team who created history in the saga of football. Ranked 53rd in the world, Indian Team scored 36 goals in the five matches they have played. The Indian women's national team won its third straight South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Championship by beating Nepal 6-0 in the finale which held in Islamabad, Pakistan. All India Football Federation (AIFF) is thinking constructively in reshaping the condition of football in every parts of the country.

AIFF President Praful Patel did not miss the opportunity for this brilliant as he tweets by congratulating the team on their magnanimous victory. He said, “Congratulations girls. This triumph in Islamabad shows that there’s no dearth of talent as far as women’s football in India in concerned. All of you make us proud. Congratulations to all the players and the support staff.”

AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das also took a moment and celebrated the moment stating this victory is another feather in the cap of Indian Football as it marks a step ahead to the roads of development of Women’s football in India. Das elaborated further, “The victory further emphasises AIFF’s keenness to develop women’s football in India. The senior national women’s championship conducted earlier this year opened up the pool of talent and the results are evident. We now look forward for Indian women squads to further make an impact at the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) level.”

Praful Patel contributions, behind the success of the AIFF, are redesigning the stature of Indian Football. India’s Bala Devi scored 16 goals which was the highest number of goals in competition. This is the highest recorded in a single edition of the championship and found the back of the net four times against Nepal in the final with Kamala and Parameshwari Devi whose names also got enlisted in the scoresheet.

Official meeting between I-League and Fed Cup Committee at Football House

I-League and Federation Cup Committee official meeting was held recently at the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Headquarters Football House, Dwarka. A. R Khaleel was the chairperson of the meeting which was also attended by top officials and delegates that include Mr. Kushal Das, General Secretary, All India Football Federation; Mr. Subrata Dutta, Vice-President, AIFF; Mr. Ankur Datta, Deputy Chairman, I-League Committee and Mr. Sunando Dhar, Mr. Anupam Dutta, CEO, Indian Super League and Mr. Prasenjit Basu from Ten Sports along with Mr. Souter Vaz and Mr. Z.A Thakur.

AIFF’s venture and proposal of U-15 Tournament for I-League Clubs was much greeted with much applause by the Clubs. The inaugural edition of the Tournament will be held in the next year. This will be a 16 team event where besides the 10 I-League Teams, four other academies and two other AIFF Academies would be a part of the event. In the first edition 14 teams would be segregated into two groups and top three from each group would be joined by the two AIFF Academies in the final round. As per Kushal Das, the primary objective of the tournament is to enhance and endorse the talent for the 2017 FIFA World Cup. The venue and the schedule of the tournament of the Championship will be later intimated by AIFF after discussion with sponsor Coca Cola and marketing partner IMG – Reliance.

In a recent press meet, AIFF President Praful Patel had made it clear that AIFF will take every initiative to enhance the popularity of football all across the nation. More and more grassroots programmes will be introduced to make youth of the country even more interested in the sport. It was unanimously decided that the registration of Players would be done centrally through the State Associations and all ID Cards would be issued by AIFF.

Praful Patel profile as the President of AIFF has been quite relevant in the regards of development of the sport. He has always stressed that even though Indian Super League (ISL) has received remarkable response, yet I-League will always stand to be the principal league of the country. Patel has urged the clubs of ISL to participate and invest their interest in the reframing of the I-League.

FIFA confirms fundamental changes in Indian Football

Indian Football is surely going through its golden period as it is now open to an international exposure. All India Football Federation (AIFF) is surely taking football to a new height where sport is being made popular to every corner of the country and among all the aspiring players. No wonder, Indian Super League has received an overwhelming response from all the sports lovers. This has been a groundbreaking venture in which top footballers of international repute have joined and have given the league an outstanding stature. The IMG – Reliance organized tournament is surely opening gates for Indian Football to get sufficient exposure from FIFA who are planning to open up more and more academies for the infrastructural development of the sports in India.

AIFF President Praful Patel has recently said that it is good news that FIFA has recognized the developmental procedure of Indian Football. Undoubtedly, ISL has gained a TRP which is almost 50 per cent of the Indian Premier League (IPL) of cricket. Patel has challenged those critics who have shown their skepticism regarding the commencement of IPL. Apart from that AIFF is also setting a trend for training the youngsters with their comprehensive grassroots programs and courses. With the incorporation of the international stars in the matches, the kids are finding the national sport even more appealing as they are more inclined to the international tournaments.

Praful Patel contributions behind the progress of the sport cannot simply be denied. He acknowledged the fact India has a long way to go and make it even stronger before it can compete with the international stars and the best nation of the continent. He confirmed his passion for the progress of Indian Football and its development. The world football fraternity, according to the president, especially FIFA has acknowledged the fundamental changes happening in India. It is expected that the results will be seen within next three to five years. Patel signed off saying, “That's why we pitched for the World Cup under-17. After that, we'll go to World Cup under-20 so same kids will transition. By the time they are 23-24, we'll think of entering the World Cup. That is the thought.”

Bala Devi scores the highest at the SAFF Women’s Championships

Indian Football is not only making a glorious mark in terms of its men’s team, but women team is also making a grand mark to make the sports even more popular before the world. Defending champions is performing marvellously at the third edition of the SAFF Women’s Championship as they have been crushing their opponents on a wider margin. Few days back India defeated Maldives by a margin of 8-0 in a Group-A encounter in Islamabad. It is only yesterday itself it won a semis against Sri Lanka by 5 – 0 and is competing against Nepal at the finals today.

This is surely a boost to the development of Indian Football as it spreads its wings to every corner of the country. AIFF President Praful Patel is no wonder ecstatic about the team’s performance as he tweets congratulating the team for their magnanimous win in the semi-finals. All India Football Federation (AIFF) is keeping no stones unturned to develop the infrastructure of the Indian team so that it becomes completely groomed for participating in the international leagues and tournaments.

With Praful Patel contributions, AIFF is taking remarkable progress and is targeting to make football even more popular through its extensive Grassroots Development Programmes and Youth Development Programmes. These programmes are going to help football touch a pinnacle and will get the sports a wide and a global exposure. The upcoming and aspiring players are being trained in a way so that they can compete with their international counterparts.

AFC Medical Committee meets at the Football House

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) held its Medical Conference and the important delegates of the AFC Medical Committee met the at the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Headquarters in Football House. It is a great opportunity and honour for India to play the host of this high profile “evidence based science & medicine” conference for the first time in South and Central Asia. The 5th AFC Medical Conference, organised every four years, is the first of its kind to be scheduled in India to be held from April 2 - 4, 2015 at JW Mariott, Aerocity, New Delhi, with an expected members of 800-1,000 including various International conglomerates.

A tripartite settlement has been signed among AFC, All India Football Federation (AIFF) Sri Ramachandra Arthroscopy & Sports Science Centre (SRASSC) by forming a medical institution of its kind to come on board for the mega conference on football medicine. The participants will have the exposure to the latest medical equipment and technologies, pharmaceuticals, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, fitness accessories along with health products during the three day programme.

AIFF President Praful Patel has initiated major programmes and planning for Indian Football to get a formidable position in the Asian Football Confederation. Patel has been emphasizing on the refurbishment of the I-League which he called the principal tournament of the country. According to him, it is very important to raise the bar of the tournament as par with the other football tournaments and make it even more professional in the country.

With Praful Patel contributions, AIFF is presently bidding for top international tournaments in the next five years. AIFF President has been quite enthusiastic about the on-going Indian Super League (ISL) but he has said that it is the primary focus of the AIFF to make I-League as popular event of the nation and gain a mass appeal for that.

I-League remains the principal league of Indian football

Indian Super League (ISL) is no doubt gaining immense popularity amongst the football fans and the sponsors of the sports. It has generated a mass appeal with the kind of glitz, glamour and extension which have led the officials think out of the box about the sport. It is the credibility of the IMG-Reliance that they have not only been able to pull in top celebrities, sports persons and businessmen from India, but have been able to garner the support of some of the renowned world cuppers from the world. These international football stars have not only supported the game but have also reassured to bring in a strong level of professionalism and technique in the teams.

All India Football Federation has, indeed, introduced a magnanimous event by venturing into ISL, yet AIFF President Praful Patel thinks on a larger platform. He has been quite affirmative regarding the ISL from the very beginning, since it was conceptualised. But on the other hand, he is keener to professionalise and reshape the pattern of the I-League.

According to Praful Patel information, AIFF is trying to bid for more FIFA tournaments which are to be hosted in India. AIFF is taking every necessary step in order to pitch in for an international level. The organisation is already preparing itself for the much awaited FIFA Under – 17 World Cup, slated in the year 2017. With this, AIFF is also targeting for holding Club World Championships in 2017 and 2018; along with this it will also bid for World Cup Under – 20 in the next five years. Praful Patel has confirmed that ISL has undoubtedly created a sense of enthusiasm in the Indian Football, but it is very important to make I-League a more professional tournament of the country.

Mumbai FC gets back to original home ground Cooperage Football Stadium

Mumbai FC has returned to their original home ground, the Cooperage Football Stadium in Mumbai, after a gap of four years and will be playing against Kenkre FC in the on-going MDFA Elite Division League. The last time the I-League played a match at the Cooperage was in 2010 where they had defeated Mohun Bagan by 2-0. This is, however, a historic stadium with the legacy of more than 100 years of Indian Football and has been the breeding field of many Indian football legends. Atul Badgamia, the Dy. Vice President of Mumbai FC, seemed to be pretty delighted on having the club playing at Cooperage again.

Badgamia considers it to be an honour for the players to play in this legendary stadium. He is hopeful that WIFA will get the permission of that is necessary to host matches in the stadium. The football enthusiasts are eagerly waiting for a thrilling match. The match against Kenkre FC and Mumbai FC will also mark the return of MDFA Elite Division after 2 years gap. All India Football Federation (AIFF) is also shaped up in its new avatar as it has already ushered in the era of progress and development. The credit of shaping up the sport in the country goes to AIFF President Praful Patel who has endeavoured much to take football to an international standard bagging prestigious FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The organisation is taking sufficient initiatives to develop the infrastructural ground for the tournament. It has been hoped that, under Praful Patel profile as the chief mentor of AIFF, this tournament will change the face of the sport in the country. This would be a kind of international tournament which will help Indian football gain a global exposure.

Delhi Dynamos FC and Chennaiyin FC clash in New Delhi

The capital city is all set to witness the head on clash between the Delhi Dynamos FC and Chennaiyin FC. The country is fastening their seat belts up and is waiting to how the two titans find their way a step ahead in the league. Delhi is eager to find their first win and is simply gearing up to face their southern opponents. On the other hand the Chennai boys have straightened their chords in order to experience the taste of their hat-trick. The Chennai team wants to use their marquee player Brazilian Elano and make their way to the cup even easier.

AIFF President Praful Patel has appreciated the response which the ISL has received from the football fans all over India. He thinks that the league is going to prove to be a positive factor in the development of the game and will help the game in getting back its track in the hearts of the fans. Commercially too, ISL will be a great venture as it will help Indian Football to get much attraction from the sponsors and will prove to be money-spinning. The connoisseurs, although, think that the league is still in its nascent stage and it is a matter of time to determine its success graph.

Praful Patel profile is an important factor in terms of the success, development and modernisation of the Indian Football. Being the President of All India Football Federation (AIFF), Patel has taken every measure to turn the wheel into the modern era. Recently, in the launching ceremony of AIFF’s Strategic Planning, Patel has specifically said that the I-League will work as a short term booster, but the real tournament of the country will always be I-League. The ceremony was graced by FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke who has urged the government to do the rightful investments for the growth of the sport in the country. Not only so, both Patel and Valcke had stressed majorly on the grassroots development of football in the nation which will help in redefining the course of the game from its very core

I-League remains the principal league of Indian football

Indian Super League (ISL) is no doubt gaining immense popularity amongst the football fans and the sponsors of the sports. It has generated a mass appeal with the kind of glitz, glamour and extension which have led the officials think out of the box about the sport. It is the credibility of the IMG-Reliance that they have not only been able to pull in top celebrities, sports persons and businessmen from India, but have been able to garner the support of some of the renowned world cuppers from the world. These international football stars have not only supported the game but have also reassured to bring in a strong level of professionalism and technique in the teams.

All India Football Federation has, indeed, introduced a magnanimous event by venturing into ISL, yet AIFF President Praful Patel thinks on a larger platform. He has been quite affirmative regarding the ISL from the very beginning, since it was conceptualised. But on the other hand, he is keener to professionalise and reshape the pattern of the I-League.

According to Praful Patel information, AIFF is trying to bid for more FIFA tournaments which are to be hosted in India. AIFF is taking every necessary step in order to pitch in for an international level. The organisation is already preparing itself for the much awaited FIFA Under – 17 World Cup, slated in the year 2017. With this, AIFF is also targeting for holding Club World Championships in 2017 and 2018; along with this it will also bid for World Cup Under – 20 in the next five years. Praful Patel has confirmed that ISL has undoubtedly created a sense of enthusiasm in the Indian Football, but it is very important to make I-League a more professional tournament of the country.