AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: The AIFF Women’s Football Committee meeting, chaired by Ms. Valanka Natasha Alemao, was held virtually today, Saturday, March 2, 2024.

Along with the Chairperson Ms. Alemao, AIFF Acting Secretary General Mr. M Satyanarayan, Deputy Chairperson Ms. Tsering Angmo, and members, Ms. Chitra Gangadharan, Ms. Shabana Rabbani and Ms. Thongam Tababi Devi attended the meeting virtually.

Welcoming the members of the committee, Acting Secretary General Mr. Satyanarayan said: “We are enjoying a good phase right now with the women’s teams in all age categories, including the senior team. The U19 team clinched joint championship honours in the SAFF U19 Women’s Championship in Dhaka recently. Immediately after this, the senior team secured the runners-up position in the Turkish Women’s Cup. The U16 women’s team are currently playing in the SAFF Championship and have won the first match comfortably.

“The Women’s Senior National Team didn't have the opportunity to get international exposure for many months. There are plans to give the team more frequent exposure in the near future.

“In light of these achievements and with various international competitions underway, the ‘Khelo India’ Women's Football League continues to serve as a beacon of progress. It offers a crucial platform for aspiring women footballers to unlock their potential and play an important role in fostering the growth of the sport throughout the nation. This initiative, spearheaded by the government, deserves commendation for its efforts in providing a dedicated platform for girls to showcase their talents in football.”

The Committee analysed and appreciated the performances of the various women’s National Teams and deliberated upon the discussions going on with FIFA regarding the FIFA Women’s Development Programme and various domestic leagues that are being conducted in the country, such as the Khelo India Women’s League and the Indian Women’s League. 

The committee also lauded the strategic deployment of scouts across diverse regions of the country, recognising their important role in talent identification and development. Additionally, discussions were held regarding the appointment of new coaches, signalling a promising step forward in advancing women's football in India.

The committee underscored the importance of recruiting more "A and B" License coaches, particularly goalkeeper coaches, and encouraging their active participation within the ecosystem.

In addition to these initiatives, the committee recommended the celebration of Women’s Day and the organisation of virtual workshops. The Acting General Secretary emphasised the significance of states engaging in activities to celebrate the special day.

The Women’s Committee chairperson, Ms. Alemao, said, “I express my gratitude to everyone for their valuable contributions to this fruitful meeting. It's been four months since our last gathering, and we have witnessed some significant changes since then. 

“As we embark on the crucial task ahead for the women’s team, it's evident that there is a collective willingness to work towards our shared goals. We are familiar with each other and I eagerly wait to work with everyone on this journey ahead.”

One of the Women’s Committee members, Ms. Sasmita Mallick, could not attend the meeting because of her father’s demise. The committee condoled his death.