During the AIFF Executive Committee meeting at the Football House in Delhi, President Kalyan Chaubey announced that Senior National Championship will be renamed as ‘FIFA’ Santosh Trophy. The rebranding decision was taken in the presence of newly appointed Secretary-General M Satyanarayanan. Chaubey also announced that FIFA President Gianni Infantino would attend the Finals of the tournament in Arunachal Pradesh.
“I am happy to announce that after having discussions with FIFA, the Santosh Trophy will now be known as the FIFA Santosh Trophy. This entails that a team of FIFA officials will come to have a meeting with Arunachal Pradesh officials on the conduct of the tournament,” explained Kalyan Chaubey.
“We also expect the FIFA President to be present for the final on March 9 or 10,” he added.
Wenger visit this month
Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development will visit India later this month. The AIFF President stated that his visit will mark the beginning of a new era in India’s youth development initiatives and programmes.
Wenger will visit India from November 19th to November 23rd and will attend India’s WC Qualifier against Qatar. He expressed a wish to invite ISL, I-League, and football NGOs to an AIFF special session. Wenger will also set up a FIFA-AIFF academy for U-13 boys and girls.
Wenger serves as FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development and is a member of FIFA’s football and technical advisory committees. He is also the chairman of FIFA’s technical research committee. Wenger’s work includes coaching education as well.
The AIFF intends to construct a goalkeepers’ academy in order to produce quality goalkeepers for the country. The AIFF President, a former India custodian, informed members that he had met with Germany’s great former custodian Oliver Kahn. Kahn recently came on a personal visit to India.