During the conclusion of the 12th edition of the Father Palau Inter-School Boys Football Tournament in Bhavnagar, Kalyan Chaubey, the President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), revealed the organization’s intent to host a four-nation football tournament in Gujarat. This announcement came as Chaubey acknowledged Gujarat’s current standing as one of the top 5 states in sports within the country.
The AIFF, having recently chosen Gujarat to host the national football championship, is now planning to organize a prestigious four-nation senior men’s football team tournament in the state for the Indian Football Team.
Chaubey also shared his views on the active involvement of former players in leadership roles within sports associations. He underscored the positive impact these individuals could bring to the sports ecosystem, emphasizing their unique ability to identify talent from grassroots levels.
While there may not be a specific mandate for this, Chaubey emphasized that the fusion of sports and administration, led by former players, could effectively propel the promotion of sports.
As part of its committed focus on grassroots development, the AIFF has entrusted Mulrajsinh Chudasma, the Secretary of the Gujarat State Football Association, with spearheading the nationwide grassroots development project. Notably, Chudasma has been appointed as the Chairman of the Football for Schools Blue Cubs Initiative by the federation.
This initiative sets an ambitious goal of reaching 2.61 crore players in 1.53 schools across the country. As a testament to its dedication, the AIFF has already made a substantial contribution by donating an impressive 11.15 lakh footballs for this initiative. These strategic efforts aim to foster young talent and cultivate a robust football culture at the grassroots level, establishing a solid foundation for the future of Indian football.
