AFC Media Team

KUALA LUMPUR: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has become the latest Member Association of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to be endorsed with a Silver-level membership under the AFC Grassroots Charter.

Bestowed with a Bronze-level membership in 2020, the AFC Grassroots Panel members were pleased to note the AIFF’s strong commitment towards grassroots development through long-term sustainable programmes, regional involvement, and strong partnerships with various stakeholders across the country.

As part of their evaluation, the AFC experts visited the AIFF Headquarters in New Delhi and received updates on the future plans and ongoing activities of the grassroots and youth football department as well as women’s football, referees, and competitions divisions.

The assessors were particularly impressed with the Blue Cubs initiative, designed to instil a lifelong love for the sport among children between the ages of four and 12 by engaging them in various football activities.

The project, which aims to involve 35 million children by 2026, includes several elements, ranging from establishing development centres and hosting festivals to expanding the reach of the game to schools and remote villages across the subcontinent through active collaboration with major stakeholders such as Indian Super League clubs, local governing bodies and nonprofitable organisations.

The panel members also travelled to the southern state of Goa and visited the SESA Football Academy, where they observed various grassroots activities and training sessions of ‘C’ licensed coaches.

Additionally, they visited the FC Goa academy, which is focused on advancing grassroots football in the region, and were pleased to observe a strong collaboration with the state government and regional investors, which has resulted in the establishment of a robust system, including a youth league for ages six to 18, that held nearly 1,100 matches in the past year alone.

Finally, the experts visited the Youth Futsal Academy and commended its efforts in ensuring regular competitions and training sessions for children from across the state, under the supervision of expert coaches.

AIFF Secretary General Anil Kumar Prabhakaran said: “This recognition is a testament to the Grassroots team's dedication and hard work.

“It will undoubtedly fuel our motivation to even greater heights. With this momentum, I am confident we are well on our way to reaching Gold level membership in the near future."