AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: You need to cater to the roots, they always say -- unless you water the roots, it never develops. All India Football Federation’s silent revolution to build it ‘for the future’ has been shaping the structure of Football and the redefining the manner it’s approached in India.

The Asian Football Confederation’s annual Grassroots Day was celebrated all over the Country with many State Associations, Hero I-League Clubs and Hero Indian Super League Clubs indulging in GR activities, all to popularize the sport in the Country.

In his message, AFC President Shaikh Salman said: “The annual AFC Grassroots Day is celebrated across Asia to underline the importance of investing in grassroots football. Children, today’s grassroots players, are tomorrow’s national team stars.”

Besides India, the AFC Grassroots Day was also celebrated all over the Continent.

Grassroots play an integral part as it not only helps in the development of young talent but also popularizes the ‘Beautiful Game’ amongst the young crop, leading them to play the sport with passion.

All India Football Federation kick started a total of 8 Grassroots Leader Courses spanned across India. The massive outreach of these Courses saw more than 200 Grassroots Leaders participate, which will help them to tutor the kids in line with the AIFF Grassroots philosophy.

The States of Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh and Maharashtra amongst others organized their respective festivities which saw a massive number of kids participate and learn under guidance of AIFF Grassroots Coaches.

The Western India Football Association (WIFA) commemorated the AFC Grassroots Day by commencing five Grassroots Courses in the districts of Nagpur, Mumbai, Thane and Pune.

Not only that, Hero ISL, Hero I-League and 2^nd Division I-League Clubs have took up the opportunity making all understand the importance of Grassroots Football.

Clubs such as Sporting Clube de Goa, Dempo SC, Salgaocar SC, Mumbai FC amongst others organized Grassroots Festivals for the kids. And the outreach Programme drew out close to 700 boys and girls, all of whom indulged in small-scale footballing activities.

Hero ISL Clubs such as Delhi Dynamos, FC Goa amongst others also commemorated the AFC Grassroots Day with a Grassroots Festival which saw mass participation from the young crop.

The message sent across was loud and clear – providing all children regardless of their level should have a chance to play football. After all, investment in grassroots is investment for the future.

But it certainly doesn’t end there. Understanding that the GR programme needs to continue all throughout the year, AIFF silent revolution continues. Recognition has come from AFC with the AIFF winning two Awards in to consecutive years. If in 2013, AIFF was nominated among the top three in AFC Grassroots MA of the Year Award, the following year in 2014, AIFF won the AFC President’s Recognition Award for Grassroots Development.

It doesn’t end there; rather this is just the beginning.