Women’s football in India needs considerable emphasis

The All India Football Federation acts as the parent body for the governance of the sport in the country. The Federation works for the development of football irrespective of gender and women’s football in India is also progressing by the day.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day several development plans for improving women’s football in the country are being formulated.  In the recently ended SAFF Championship, the Indian women’s contingent emerged triumphant with a gold medal. Over the years, the Indian women’s football team has come up with a range of impressive performances. 

Under the Praful Patel profile, there has been a general improvement of Indian football and the technical director of AIFF Scott O Donnell has indicated the idea of getting more women involved in the sport.  As per the version of Scott O Donnell who works closely with AIFF in bringing out the technical modalities of Indian football.

“We have to build on the base and stay realistic at the same time. Getting more girls playing Football in India is a priority as is getting more Female Coaches involved into the game. Women from more and more States need to start playing regularly. It has to start from the base.

AIFF have been in discussions with FIFA and potential sponsors about starting a Women’s League here in India for a while now. We have looked at a few different models and will hopefully have something to announce in the coming months. Given the success of the ongoing national U15 and U18 Leagues for boys, we could look at a similar model for the Women in place of the traditional National Championships format.

 As per the Praful Patel biography, Indian football has surged ahead and it is time that women’s football in the country becomes more competitive where the girls are provided with more exposure.

AIFF Academy U-19 to face TFA in IFA Shield final

The prestigious IFA shield football tournament is again on a roll. The AIFF U-19 academy boys is all set to take on the TFA academy in the IFA shield final. The All India Football Federation has taken a variety of steps for enhancing the popularity of the sport in the country and work has started from a grassroot level.

Under the Praful Patel biography, several important initiatives related to Indian football have been taken. The last time the two sides met was in the Final of the U-18 I-League with the AIFF colts going on to win the Crown. The Academy boys have been on a roll having stretched their unbeaten run to 31 matches which started way back in 2014.

The AIFF Academy have had a fantastic run in the tournament so far maintaining an all win record on their way to the final scoring as many as a major number of goals in the process. The most notable has been the fact that they have brushed aside challenges of two foreign Clubs in the process.While the U-18 boys accounted for U-19 Frenz United 4-2 in the group phase, they overcame U-19 Crystal Palace Academy in sudden death in semifinal which was a grueling affair. 

Under the Praful Patel profile, the AIFF Elite Academy boys have performed quite well and have been also given the best of facilities as players. As per the head coach of the AIFF academy Floyd Pinto,” They are a good side. 

They are also a dangerous side. We need to be careful. But we are up to the challenge”. “There’s no room for complacency. It’s a different day, a different match.” The final to be scheduled for Sunday evening just seems to be quite a challenging task for both the teams. It remains to be seen who emerges triumphant in the quest for silverware.

YMFC to come up with tournament of international standards

The All India Football Federation is coming up with several measures to popularize the game in the country. The  of the oldest clubs of the country, Young Muslim Football Club (YMFC), will be conducting the Centennial All India Football tournament to celebrate the completion of club's 100 years, from January 31 to February 14.

As the President of the All India Football Federation minister Praful Patel has always worked upon developing the game from a rudimentary level in the country. 

The City Police will take on Rabbani Club, Kamptee in the inaugural match at 2.30 pm on Sunday at the SCCR Motibagh Stadium.

Five outstation teams and ten top locals will compete in the two-week long tourney. Air India, ONGC Mumbai, DSK Shivaji Pune, Kalighat Club Kolkata and Army XI are the national-level teams. These five along with hosts YMFC and Nagpur Football Club have been given direct entry at the super league stage, said former mayor and advisory committee member Atal Bahadur Singh in a press conference here on Friday.

In the first week of the tourney, Rabbani Club, Rahul Club, City Police, South East Central Railway, Qidwai Club, SRPF, New Globe and City Club will clash against each other for a lone spot to enter the super league stage.

Young Muslim Football Club is celebrating hundred years of its formation by conducting this All India Football tournament.

The champions will get Rs 1.51 lakh, while runners-up will collect Rs 1,11,111. Besides, there will be attractive individual prizes including Golden Boot (player of the tournament), Golden Ball (man of the final) and Silver Gloves (best goalkeeper). 

Bringing in club from grassroots level in the country adds more value to football. This will provide the youngsters with considerable room for improvement and help them to play at an international level at the later stage.  Under the Praful Patel biography, the smaller clubs in the country have received the basic infrastructure backing.

Shillong Lajong salvage a point against DSK Shivajians in the I- League

The All India Football Federation has taken several measures to enhance the popularity of the I-League. Over the years, the Federation has made the I-League one of the most coveted tournaments in the country with new marketing strategies. All the matches of the league are broadcast live with an increase in television viewership every single year.  The tournament has reached its halfway mark as all the teams vie for supremacy in the upcoming matches.

In one of the crucial matches of the league, Shillong Lajong FC took on the DSK Shivajians and picked up a point only. As per the version of the Shillong Lajong coach Thangboi Shingto, the “I think in the second half DSK had more chances than us but we should have killed the game in the first half. We had some really good chances but didn’t take advantage of it. We have had four tough away games and that has taken a toll on us. Overall we got three points from our four away games. We knew this game was not going to be easy.

I think credit goes to DSK as they were better than us in the second half. I think we missed the experience of Fabio. We need to defend better in order to win more games. Last year we scored a lot of goals and conceded a lot too. This season we have a lot of youngsters. 13 of our 18 players are Under-21. I have few seniors and so it is difficult. 

As the President of the All India Football Federation minister Praful Patel has taken several measures for the development of the I League. 

Under the Praful Patel biography, the I-League has prospered a lot and become one of the most coveted tournaments in the country.

Mohun Bagan to take on Shillong Lajong in crucial encounter

The mariners or the defending champions of the I- League Mohun Bagan is taking on Shillong Lajong  in a crucial encounter.  With the title race for the I- League becoming all the more exciting by the day this is indeed quite an  important match for the Bagan contingent.  The century old club has begun their campaign quite well this season and has beaten some of the top clubs in their title pursuit.  Under the tutelage of coach Sanjoy Sen, the club has quite a formidable team to its credit. 

Under the Praful Patel biography, Indian football has progressed considerably over the years and made an impact at the international stage. Cornell Glen is one of the most important players in the Mohun Bagan sida and has played an imperative role in this league.

 As per the version of Glen, “ We have the best local players. This takes a lot of pressure off the foreign players. I haven't scored a goal since three weeks and see how Jeje (Lalpekhlua) has stepped up and scored in the last game. Sony (Norde), Katsumi (Yusa) and Balwant (Singh) can also score. It's always good to have  quality players behind you. It's important that we have these players to step up and get the job done. 

I am a professional and I have a job to do. It has nothing to do with previous teams. I am here to win games for Mohun Bagan and hopefully I can get a good performance in tomorrow and win the game. As the President of the All India Football Federation minister Praful Patel has made the I- League one of the most competitive and premier tournaments in the country. It remains to be seen how the top teams like Mohun Bagan performs in the competition.

Mohun Begin is a much settled side in the I-League

As one of the century old clubs and defending champions of the I-League Mohun Bagan has proved their supremacy for many seasons. The  2016 campaign has already begun quite well for the Bagan contingent as they have come up with a very impressive performance and currently leads the points table. They have remained unbeaten so far this season and the defensive prowess of the club has been praised quite highly by the football pundits. The man leading the Mohun Bagan defence this season is Kingshuk Debnath, one of the most promising ones in the country. 

Under the Praful Patel biography, the I League stands out as one of the premier football competitions in the country and the tournament has become all the more competitive.  As per the version of one of the noted defenders from the country Debnath, “We are playing well now but we have to do so till the end and win the championship. 

We have to play well in the future matches too with the same level of performance. He mentioned that the mood within the Bagan camp is good and it is down to every player fulfilling his responsibility.“Our team spirit is very good. The strikers are scoring and the defense is good. Each department is doing their job. The full team is combining well,” he said.“There is competition everywhere, outside and inside the pitch, but we have to prove ourselves when we get a chance so that we do not lose our place in the first eleven,” he added.

“We will have keep winning the way we are. It is very important to win matches in order to become champions. The next match will also be tough, playing against Sporting Clube de Goa on their home ground. They (Sporting Goa) have good strikers,” he shared his thoughts on the Flaming Oranje.

Under the able administratorship of AIFF President Praful Patel, the I –League has become one of the premier football tournaments in the country.

Indian women’s team backed by unison Shillong support

The Indian women’s team has currently reached the final of the South Asian games and  is all set to take on Bangladesh in the final for the crowning glory. With the All India Football Federation taking a variety of measures for enhancing the popularity of the game in the country, women’s football has also undergone massive improvements.

 The challenge of the 12th South Asian games is being  played in Shillong and the women’s team has garnered huge support ahead of their final match against Bangladesh slated to kick off on Tuesday. 

Under the guidance of the AIFF President Praful Patel, Indian football has progressed across all genders and the Indian eves has also performed quite well. As per the version of Bembem Devi, one of the living legends of Indian women’s football who is ready to retire after the completion of this tournament, “It sends shivers down the spine when the crowd supports you and cheers for you throughout the course of the 90 minutes. 

The love is surreal and as a Player you want to win the match for the crowd,” Bembem whose 75th minute substitution against Bangladesh was met with a loud roar of applause by the Shillong fans.

 “They give you the energy when legs are faltering. And it is berserk how the crowd goes wild when we score a goal.” After a brief pause Bembem adds: “This is the best crowd that I have played in front of in my 20 years of Footballing career. They are absolutely sensational.”

 For a team whose average age is just below 24, a lot of young Players are experiencing what they describe as “indescribable.

Under the Praful Patel biography, Indian football has progressed  quite well with an improvement in the FIFA rankings of the team.

Indian eves to take on Sri Lanka at a vital South Asian Games clash

With the South Asian games underway at Shillong, the Indian women’s national football team is eyeing for the title. This tournament is also the last for Bembem Devi, one of the legends of Indian women’s football.  The tournament did not start well for the Indian eves as they had drawn their opening game to Maldives and can find themselves out if they lose to Sri Lanka today.  Although the first match began on a good note for the Indians, they could not convert on the ample opportunities and it is seen as a failure of their striking prowess. 

The South Asian Games stand out as quite a landmark tournament as it has been termed as one of the most intensive competitions where the best teams from South Asia participate. But the head coach of the Indian team Sajid Dar is quite hopeful about the performance of the girls and as per his version,” It is a must win match for us, as three points will relieve a lot of pressure. The squad showcased attacking Football in our first match against Maldives and we have worked on converting our chances in the training sessions for a better result against Sri Lanka.

Under the Praful Patel constituency the various dynamics of Indian football has changed over the years and the Indian women’s national football team also needs to perform well.  With some of the most able players like Bembem Devi and Aditi  Chauhan in the team, the girls are quite upbeat about their performance against Sri Lanka.  The AIFF President Praful Patel has taken a variety of important initiatives for the progress of the sport in the country and it remains to be seen how the senior women’s national team performs in the South Asian Games.

IFA sets up fifth grassroots centre in West Bengal

The All India Football Federation is already working on some of the pilot projects which are going on along with the state associations. As the parent body for governance of football  in the country, it has already taken several important measures and the fifth grassroots centre in the state of West Bengal has been launched. The Federation always remains focused with its vision of providing apt training to the kids from the grassroot level. 

Under the leadership and acute vision of AIFF President Praful Patel, the fifth grassroots centre in the state has been formed. As per the version of the technical director of IFA, ““The reach of a private Club is huge. We have tied up with the Kalyani Veterans Club where over 150 kids practice every day. We cannot compromise at the Grassroots. 

 “The infrastructure is enviable. There are three full size grounds lying side by side with enough space left for the fourth. It’s all in the same Campus and has been fenced all around. I am not sure where would you get such an infrastructure anywhere in India,” he added.“Basically, we are looking to tie up with every District Sports Association,”  “The first tie-up happened with the Chinsurah District Sports Association separated from Kalyani by the river Ganges.”

 “Kids will come over and practice and play at weekends from where we can look at them. The idea is to popularise it among the kids. And in a State like West Bengal where every kid kicks the Ball, the initiatives are being welcomed with open hands across all sections.”

 “We also have plans to taking it to the Schools. There are many a schools with good infrastructure and we plan to get them involved in the programme. 

As the President of the All India Football Federation minister Praful Patel encourages this type of grassroots level programs which takes Indian football forward.

Aizawl FC to stay afloat in I league

The Hero I- League has begun in full swing with a very competitive tone already set for the tournament. Aizawl FC is one of the newest teams to participate in the I- League and it remains to be seen how they perform against the premier clubs. Although they are placed at the eighth position in the league, they aspire to remain afloat and not relegated as per the rules. The team also has a new coach in Jahar Das who has the vast experience of coaching a leading side like Mohun Bagan in the past. 

Under the Praful Patel biography, Indian football has progressed quite considerably and new entities like Aizawl FC has been drafted into the I-League.  As one of the experienced coaches who has been in the fraternity of Indian football for a long time,” Definitely we will as the way we are now handling the team, it has to. 

Although I being a Bengali from Calcutta, I still like that a team from Mizoram must be there in the I-League because so many players, practically in all nine teams, Mizo players are there. So why not a Mizo team will represent in the I-League? I firmly believe we will not be relegated at any cost.  We will be there in the I-League.

The Aizawl FC team is taking on Mumbai FC in a crucial I- League encounter on Saturday  and Das is quite hopeful about his side performing well in the match. He further added “We will try our best to win the match. I cannot promise it but we will try our best. Mumbai FC played a very good game against Mohun Bagan, no doubt about it. But against Mohun Bagan they had a different strategy. Against us, they will definitely not go for a draw; they will go for a win. So their attacking game will be on display which we are going to tackle.” 

As the President of the All India Football Federation minister Praful Patel has taken a variety of initiatives to make the I-League popular. 

Bembem Devi to retire from international football

The All India Football Federation is taking a variety of measures for popularizing the sport further in the country.  The game needs to develop from a grassroot level in the country across all age groups and gender barriers. 

Over the years, women’s football in India has also witnessed a number of key players who have contributed at both national and international levels. Bembem Devi is one of the living legends of Indian football and the South Asian games going on in Shillong would be her last assignment for the nation.

Over the years, the President of the All India Football Federation and former minister Praful Patel has taken a variety of important measures for the progress of the game in the country. Legends like Bembem Devi who has provided the nation with several glorious titles in the past should always be given a fitting farewell. 

Incidentally, Bembem Devi has contributed to large scale for the development of women’s football in the country and led the nation to two important SAFF titles. She is also being seen as an inspiration for the next generation of footballers in India. 

Under the Praful Patel biography, some of the significant changes in the overall scenario of Indian football has happened in the last few years. After her retirement, Bembem Devi aims to take up coaching the All India Football Federation is also looking out to her contributions after it.

As per the version of Bembem Devi, “I had won the AIFF Women's Player of the Year when it was constituted in 2001. But at the same time missing out on Olympic qualification in the year 2015 is something I will regret." I have decided not to get married but decided to sacrifice my life for football. I eat, sleep and drink football, and my goal now is to train youngsters and promote football."

She is also one of the few Indian players who holds the distinction of playing in a foreign league.  In the forthcoming days, Indian women’s football will certainly miss the contribution of a legend on the field.

East Bengal to take on Bengaluru FC in vital I-League encounter

The I – League season is getting all the more exciting with a number of fascinating games coming up. The All India Football Federation is taking several steps to make the I- League all the more popular to the fans.  East Bengal is one of the premier clubs in the country and is all set to take on Bengaluru FC in a vital I- League encounter today.  Bengaluru FC is also the current runners up of the I-league and lost to Mohun Bagan in the deciding match last year. 

As the President of the All India Football Federation minister Praful Patel has taken several steps for the development of the sport in the country. Bengaluru FC started their I-League campaign on a high note but lost their match against Mumbai FC which somehow resulted in a minor setback. The JSW men are all set to take up the challenge against East Bengal and prove their worth as a team.  But with some of the best players from the country in the team like Udanta Singh, Sunil Chettri and Alwyn George, the  team is up and ready to show East Bengal their worth. 

Under the Praful Patel Profile,  the I- League has been getting highly commercialized and the match between Bengaluru FC and East Bengal is being seen as a high voltage encounter.  As one of the favorites to win the I- League this particular season, East Bengal has already faced Mohun Bagan at the grand setting of the Salt Lake stadium and came up with an impressive performance. 

With the East Bengal team heavily relying upon Do Dong Hyun, the foreign recruit the game is taking shape to be quite a good one. With the goal machine, Ranty Martins in front, the Bengaluru defence has to take some quick action to prevent his exploits. 

Cornell Glen aims to win the I – League with Mohun Bagan

Cornell Glenn is one of the brightest foreign recruits to showcase his skills in the I- League this season. With the I- league off to a fresh start and nine teams vying for the title, the season has certainly all the ingredients to be quite interesting in every way.

With the All India Football Federation taking all the steps to make the sport more popular in the country, players like Cornell Glen certainly stand out as prize catches.  The century old club Mohun Bagan is the defending champions of the I- League and has built a formidable team for the season ahead. 

As the President of the AIFF minister Praful Patel has taken several important measures for the development of the game. The current structure of the I- League says it all where new clubs have been added with an enhancement in marketing strategy plans.

As per the version of Cornell Glen who came up with quite an impressive performance in the match, “I was happy to get on the score-sheet and finally get the ball rolling. Most importantly we won the game even though we did not play too well today. Maybe that was the result of the team only assembling a little late. There are a lot of things to work on and we will get it done,” said Glen.

“My goal is to win the I-League. Anything other than that will be a bonus for me. For me both goals are important. If you get on the score-sheet, it gives you confidence for the upcoming matches. I was given man of the match award today, but I think Balwant (Singh) deserved it more since he was a part of all three goals.

“It's going to take time for me to gel with Balwant. We have only played together for less than two weeks. Once we get things right, it will be pretty good to play with him. We communicate well and Balwant is an attacking minded player. I enjoy playing with him.

Under the Praful Patel profile, Indian football has progressed quite well and the I- league will certainly draw more fans to the stadium. 

SAFF Cup to begin amid all the excitement

The SAFF football championship is all set to begin amid all the excitement and teams from the entire region is participating in it. After the success of the edition in the year 2013 the teams are all geared up for another fabulous tournament ahead. 

The All India Football Federation has taken every possible measure to make the game popular in the country and this time the SAFF tournament is being organized amidst all the excitement from the fans.  This year in the opening match of the tournament Srilanka takes on Nepal. 

Under the visionary leadership and guidance of minister Praful Patel, the All India Football Federation has taken several important steps for the development of the game in the country.  All the seven competing teams have varying ambitions and the host nation India is quite upbeat about winning the tournament.  As per one of the talisman of the Indian striking line Sunil Chettri, the tournament is going to take an interesting shape with all the teams fighting for the prestigious crown.

Under the Praful Patel profile,  Indian football has progressed a lot and the SAFF Cup will be quite competitive with all the teams vying for supremacy. Already one of the strong teams from the SAFF region Pakistan has withdrawn from the tournament and India is on high hopes at least to reach the semifinals without any hindrance.  Some of the teams like Nepal and Maldives are geared up quite well ahead of the tournament as they have foreign  coaches in the line up. 

This will be also quite a test for the Indian players as they come right from the ISL which is currently  one of the globally recognized football tournaments. But the Indian contingent is quite geared up to perform well and showcase their mettle as a team. 

India takes on Maldives in the SAFF Suzuki Cup semi finals

The Indian football team is currently participating in the SAFF Suzuki Cup and has come up with a good performance. The All India Football Federation has taken several measures for the development of the sport in the country.

The SAFF Suzuki Cup stands out as one of the most prestigious tournaments in the region and India is all set to take on Maldives in the semi final on December 31st. As one of the prime contenders in the tournament, India has impressed with a dominating performance and a number of youngsters have played well in the group stage matches. 

As the President of the All India Football Federation minister Praful Patel has taken several initiatives for making the game popular in the country. The success of the I- league and the ISL speaks volumes about the way Indian football has progressed in the last few years.

Indian coach Stephen Constantine has emphasized upon the inclusion of youth power in Indian football and this particular team has the potential to make it big in the upcoming years.  With the FIFA U-17 World Cup and other few important tournaments coming up, the Indian team certainly has a busy schedule ahead. 

Under the Praful Patel biography, the Indian national football team now enjoys a variety of benefits. International exposure is provided to the players who also get the back up of a highly recognized technical team along with the support staff.  The Indian players are also quite hopeful about coming with an impressive performance against Maldives and the showdown surely promises some exciting football ahead.

Persons of Indian origin cannot play for India

The All India Football Federation is taking several steps for the development of the sport in the country. Recently, there has been a considerable amount of discussion  regarding the persons of Indian origin who stays abroad participating for the country.

The All India Football Federation is the highest governing body for controlling and taking important decisions regarding the development of the sport in the country. As per the President of the All India Football Federation minister Praful Patel, as of now there is no such provision of PIO’s representing the nation in any way. 

After India lost to India in the World Cup qualifiers, the team management and the coach Stephen Constantine had raised the issue of including foreign players of Indian origin in the team.  Some of the other countries in the world do play with players of foreign origin and Guam had a few American born players in the side.

 As per the version of the AIFF President who is a very able administrator of football, the law of the land cannot just change in India as per the wishes of others. There are some basic rules and regulations which need to be maintained and followed for running the game in the country. 

Under the Praful Patel constituency, several steps for a major development of Indian football has been taken and just taking Indian players of foreign origin in the team would not improve the situation in any way. It is very important for the Indian players to show their talent and come up  in the arena of international football. But the federation always looks into the matter of providing all the support to the coach but cannot allow the PIO’s at this present moment. 

Indian civil aviation sector on a high

Over the years, the Indian civil aviation sector has grown in leaps and bounds. Under the visionary leadership of Minister Praful Patel, the sector has been graced by several achievements. Since taking over the year 2004 as the civil aviation minister in the year 2004, a number of steps have been taken by him for the growth of the sector.  It has been often been talked in the Indian civil aviation sector mentioning his tenure as the golden age of the industry. 

Since taking over the portfolio of the Indian civil aviation sector in the year 2004, there has been an average increase in the rate of domestic air traffic. The overall increase in the rate of domestic air traffic has been three fold which is quite a good figure indeed.

Apart from a good growth rate in the rate of international air traffic has also increased quite considerably. The infrastructure facilities at the various important airports in the country have also been modernized. The facilities at the Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai airports have been upgraded considerably. The Indira Gandhi International Airport has been revamped quite effectively with the vision of growth. 

Under the Praful Patel constituency, the Indian civil aviation sector underwent a major overhaul.

Salgaokar FC launches annual community outreach program

Salgaokar FC one of the top notch clubs in Indian football has come up with an annual community outreach program keeping corporate social responsibility in mind. As one of the prime clubs from Indian football Salgaokar FC stands out as one of the former winners of the coveted I league trophy. The third edition of the community outreach program has been launched by the club where a huge number of fans participated amidst a carnival atmosphere. 

Salgaokar FC has a huge fan base especially in the state of Goa and football fans from other part of the country are also aware of it. The club has some of the recognized names in Indian and foreign football which has also made the fan base quite strong.

In the community outreach program which was launched by the club recently, around 600 boys and girls within the age group of 6-11 participated. The event was also organized on a Sunday which made it easy for the kids to attend it.  The club remains quite focused about the various youth development plans and looks forward to a bright future ahead with this particular community outreach program in view. 

As the President of the All India Football Federation minister Praful Patel has taken several measures for developing the overall scenario of Indian football.  Most of the clubs participating in the I league remains quite focused on the youth development plans and Salgaokar FC is no different in this regard.

 The club has a very professional scouting program in place and youngsters from the frail age of 5-6 are being searched by the club considering the various opportunities for the future.

Under the Praful Patel biography, Indian football has progressed quite well with different initiatives over the years. The initiative of Salgaokar FC has been highly appreciated  for the development of the community as a whole where young footballers can showcase their talent.

Football legend Pele arrives in Delhi for Subroto Cup final

The Brazilian football legend Pele has arrived in the capital city of Delhi to witness the Subroto Cup final. Pele has been an ambassador of football all around the globe and this is his second visit to this country where the game is hugely popular.

The Subroto Cup stands out as one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the country and a host of dignitaries are all set to attend the event.  Pele termed as the Black Pearl had come to India even once before with the famous club New York Cosmos. 

It was back in the year 1977 when New York Cosmos club took on Indian  giants Mohun Bagan and Pele impressed all with his impressive skills. Termed as the greatest footballer of all times, Pele has won three world cups with the Brazilian national side. The  performance of the Brazilian national team in the 1970 World Cup final is still remembered by the fans especially the superb goal scored by Pele.  A variety of steps have been taken by the All India Football Federation for the development of the sport in the country and the Subroto Cup stands out as one of the most important school level football tournaments in the country. 

As the President of the All India Football Federation minister Praful Patel has taken various measures to develop football in the country from a youth level. A football club like Bengaluru FC has a corporate structure allotted to them and remains quite focused on the development of youth football.  

Under the Praful Patel biography, various age groups tournaments in Indian football is happening which remains as a very positive sign. The Subroto Cup final between AIFF U -17 academy boys and Manipur stands out be a great occasion on the podium of Indian football.

Patel backs Indian coach Constantine to deliver on his contract

The All India Football Federation has taken several measures for the development of sport in the  country. Currently, the Indian team is competing in the World Cup qualifiers and lost the last outing against Iran. But considering the prowess of Iran as one of the giants of Asian football, India came up with a decent performance on the day and also created a few chances.  In a very recent meeting which was held for the development of Indian football, the AIFF President had not backed Constantine as the custodian of Indian football and wanted him to focus more on the team.

But just after a day or two of making a firm decision on the Indian coach minister Praful Patel has backed Constantine on his job and believes he is fully capable to perform his duties. Constantine has been provided with a contract with the Indian team and it is the responsibility of the coach to enhance the performance level of the team. As far as the selection of Constantine for the position of the coach is concerned, a technical committee was formed which completed the task. 

The technical committee was headed by none other than Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia who  provided his valuable inputs to hire Constantine as the coach of the national team. Under the Praful Patel profile Indian football has progressed a long way just in a few years time. 

As a visionary who always believes that the growth of Indian football can happen from a grass root level various new measures have been taken by him.  As per the President of the All India Football Federation, the best support has been provided to the team and the entire development plan will take around five to seven years in all.