Must engage in dialogue to implement time-based roadmap, says AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey

AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey stressed the importance of engaging in dialogue and finding solutions in order to prepare and implement a “time-based roadmap” for Indian Football.

AIFF president Chaubey speaking at the three-day third edition of the Global Soccer Conclave in Mumbai, | Photo Credit: AIFF Media

AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, on Sunday, September 4, stressed the importance of engaging in dialogue and finding solutions in order to prepare and implement a “time-based roadmap” for Indian Football.

Chaubey, who was speaking at the three-day third edition of the Global Soccer Conclave in Mumbai, said, “India is a diverse country and therefore, the solutions for the betterment of football must be specific as per our need. No cut and paste clarification is available for that. Therefore, the most important part is to engage in inclusive dialogues to identify usable solutions for our own football-centric challenges."

“AIFF will facilitate the process and ultimately strategise a time-based roadmap to ensure empowerment of the football ecosystem in every state,” Chaubey continued.

“Youth development, quality human resources, and above all accountability can ultimately bring winning performance inside the pitch as well as outside.”

The AIFF president further said, “The challenges can be tough, but the newly elected committee has the necessary experience to take up the challenges and reach the destination. The problems don’t have quick-fix answers. But I can promise that there will be sustainable solutions, and they will bring results. I assure you that we have already started moving towards that direction by creating various high-power committees to suggest the solutions that we are looking for.”

What he said after being elected

After being elected as the AIFF president, Chaubey said he would not make any grand promises about Indian football but promised that his administration will not hesitate to take help from anyone for the betterment of the game.

“Football ought to be run democratically in a democratic nation, and with the help of the government and the order of the Supreme Court, elections were held today, and victory gained. We assure you that we will try to take Indian football forward with the help of all territories,” he said.

Chaubey said he wasn’t going to make “unrealistic goals” as they may not be realised, and that the “roadmap” for Indian football will be discussed only in 100 days’ time, after consultations with various stakeholders.

The AIFF Chief said on September 2 that he and his administraton will unveil a structured roadmap for Indian football after 100 days.