The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is set to undergo a significant transformation in its work culture, moving away from a laid-back attitude and aiming for a more result-oriented approach. This overhaul is part of a comprehensive roadmap designed to elevate the Indian national football team to one of the best in Asia over the next 25 years.
While the roadmap may not explicitly state that World Cup qualification is the ultimate goal, it strongly implies that by becoming one of the top teams in Asia, India would naturally find itself in contention for World Cup qualification. The AIFF’s new leadership believes that focusing on excellence within Asia is the key to making an impact on the global stage.
The source with knowledge of these developments explained, “The new set of office bearers does not want to portray World Cup qualification as be-all and end-all goal. The thought process is if you are among the best in Asia, then you will be playing in the World Cup. The Indian team was earlier among the best in Asia. The attempt is to rise steadily to that level once again.”
During the 1950s and early 1960s, considered the golden era of Indian football, the national team achieved remarkable success, including winning gold medals at the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games and finishing fourth at the 1956 Olympics. However, India’s football fortunes declined after that period, with the bronze medal at the 1970 Asian Games being the last significant achievement at the continental level.
The new approach will introduce a target-oriented mindset across the board, encompassing coaches, support staff, programs, and even the AIFF headquarters’ workforce. The aim is to eliminate the previously laid-back attitude and instill a culture of dedication and commitment among everyone associated with the AIFF.
The release of the comprehensive roadmap, which will cover various aspects of Indian football, including clubs, leagues, state associations, grassroots and youth development, national team development, women’s football, coach education, and refereeing, will be slightly delayed as the AIFF seeks input from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation. Initially planned for release 100 days after the September 2 elections, it is now expected to be unveiled in the first week of January.
This roadmap will also address the commercial aspects of Indian football, aiming to significantly increase the AIFF’s annual budget, which currently stands at just over Rs 100 crore. The commercial potential of Indian football is widely recognized, and efforts will be made to extract its full value to boost the financial resources of the AIFF.
In the past, the AIFF had released strategic plans like “Lakshya 2022” in 2012, primarily focused on qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, and another roadmap in 2019, developed in collaboration with FIFA and AFC, which dealt mainly with domestic league structures, including promotion and relegation in the Indian Super League and I-League. However, the upcoming roadmap is expected to be the most comprehensive ever created in the history of Indian football, encompassing all facets of the sport’s development and growth.
