AIFF and GFA locked in bitter feud that threatens U-17 World Cup preparation
The sea-side state of Goa may still be reveling from being selected as a provisional venue for the prestigious U-17 World Cup to be held in 2017 as well as the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) U-16 Championship in 2016, yet various aspects regarding the tournaments themselves are turning out to be a cynosure for fisticuffs between the Goa Football Association (GFA) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
What has particularly enraged the chief of Goa's football body, Elvis Gomes, is the lack of communciation between the national body and the state, accussing the Indian body for being a stickler to non-compliance of procedures which it set in place. In a press conference called at the headquarters of the Goan body, Gomes accussed the AIFF of not scouting enough local talent as they earlier promised.
"Till date no AIFF representative has turned up to do the needful. As a result of which, we find ourselves in an embarrassing situation when parents approach us and enquire whether any Goan will get an opportunity to represent the country in the FIFA U-17 World Cup," revealed the visibly enraged chief of Goan football.
Even worse, what provoked risible was the fact that even though the GFA and Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) had signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to have unlimited access to the renovated turf at Fatorda. Gomes alleged the AIFF had snuck in behind the GFA and signed another MoU curtailing the use of the gorund to just four hours in the morning.
“However, later the AIFF along with SAG signed a second MoU, without the knowledge of GFA, restricting their usage of the ground to just four hours in the morning session,” complained Gomes, threatening to take the matter to the Chief Minister of Goa, Laxmikant Parsekar.
As Goal had earlier revaled, Jharkand had been stripped of the title of the U-14 Junior National Coca-Cola Cup Champions, as their age-related fraud had been brought to light. Now, calling it another bone of contention, Gomes caled on the AIFF to instate the Goans as the recognised winners.
“With Jharkhand being stripped of the title, AIFF should declare Goa as the winners as that would help the Goan lads get more marks and will also enable them avail other benefits," elucidated the head-honcho.
Meanwhile, the AIFF's general secretary Kushal Das has invalidated all the accusations leveled at the Federation by Gomes and the GFA, stating, "I don’t know why the GFA is having such issues, we want to involve GFA but they are not getting involved," to The Navhind Times.
He also pointed to thge fact that none of the GFA members turned up to the ceremony wherein Goa was selected as a provisional venue, terming their stand inappropriate. "We had prepared the name plates of GFA for the announcement programme, and SAG had invited them, but the GFA didn’t turn up,” he expounded.
Das also dispelled the myth that the AIFF had promised to search for local talent, adding that the coach of the junior team, Nicolai Adam, was based in Goa itself and that he could spot talent if he wanted to.
“GFA has nothing to do with it. We are paying the owner (SAG) for the utilisation of the ground,” replied Das, when quizzed on the matter of the MoU between SAG and GFA, clearly backhanding all of the Goan body's accusations away.
Finally, the general secretary laughed in the face of suggestions that the U-14 title should be handed over to the Goans, concluding, "Though Jharkhand are stripped of the title, there is no way Goa can be declared winners as many other teams lost to Jharkhand at the knock out stages and they all stood equal chance.”
It is logical to say that Goa won the u14 title after Jharkhand were stripped of their title. While rest of the issues are petty power struggle between the AIFF and GFA
India’s current U-16 squad presently preparing in Goa for the FIFA 2017 U-17 World Cup left on Monday (July 20) for an extensive exposure Tour to Germany for almost two months.
The Tour to Germany would be followed by the AFC U-16 Qualifiers in Tabriz City, Iran from where the colts would be proceeding to Spain to compete in the AGS Cup in the third week of September 2015.
During their stay in Germany, the Indian colts will be playing a minimum of 15-16 practice matches including ones against youth Teams of Bayern Munich, RB Salzburg, amongst others.
India U-17 World Cup Head Coach Nicolai Adam felt the exposure Tour will “help the Team in the long run.”
“The preparation in Germany before the AFC U-16 Qualifiers will be good for the boys. The AFC Qualifiers will be tough with Iran, Bahrain and Lebanon in our Group,” he informed www.the-aiff.com.
“After the Qualifiers, there was always a temptation of coming back to India as the boys would be out for long. But during my previous stint with Azerbaijan, I have been at the AGS Cup and stay aware of the level of competition it offers. Many International Youth Teams take that as a platform to prepare for their European rounds. It will be huge for the boys.”
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