AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: The launch of the AIFF motto ‘Indian Football Forward Together,’ on Monday (October 5, 2020) also saw the internship period of the AIFF Masters kicking-off at the Football House in the Capital.

25 students are part of the inaugural course which is the first-ever sports management course to have been organised by any sports Federation in the country.

“It’s significant that all of you are at Football House on the same day as the AIFF motto is being launched,” Mr. Kushal Das, General Secretary, AIFF averred. “No pandemic has ever won against the human nature. We have adhered to the medical parameters which caters to the safety of all involved with this course,” the General Secretary added.

Enlightening the students about the governing structure of AIFF, AFC and FIFA along with AIFF’s strategic plan, Mr. Das stated: “Football managers are the key in the overall ecosystem of football, and therein lies with the significance of this specially designed course.

“There is a basic lack of understanding of the governances and concepts as far as most sports management courses in India are concerned. AIFF Masters is totally aligned with football – this is a football specific course,” the General Secretary expressed.

“We felt that you should spend some time in the Federation which runs and governs the sport in India to present to you a chance to interact with the people who actually run football. Football is the fastest growing sport in the country and this Masters programme is very crucial,” Mr. Das maintained.

The first batch of the Masters Programme will be providing the students with complete hands-on experiential training in every aspect in football in India and abroad through live tournament exposure, match staging, clubs and team management, data management, leadership and project management skills, contractual and legal obligations, sponsorship marketing and business communication as well.

The students will also get a unique opportunity to study in Cadiz (Spain) as part of the Programme. The multi-campus approach is set to ensure maximum exposure for the students to learn and develop within the different national and international eco-systems of the game.