Take team to Asian Cup quarters or face axe: Stimac “accepts” AIFF’s new contract
Take team to Asian Cup quarters or face axe: Stimac “accepts” AIFF’s new contract: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has offered head coach Igor Stimac a new contract, but only if he can lead the Indian men’s side to the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup.
After the national team’s tour to Vietnam is done, the AIFF high-ups are scheduled to meet with the former Croatian World Cup winner in Kolkata to negotiate the contract’s details.
But when PTI called Stimac, he said he was happy to extend the contract.
The decision was made during the second meeting of the AIFF’s new Executive Committee (EC), which is led by Kalyan Chaubey and includes Shaji Prabhakaran as secretary general.
Prabhakaran told reporters on Monday that the Executive Committee has supported the technical committee’s decision to extend Vijayan’s contract until after the Asian Cup.
Statements
“The goal of the performance is to place in the top eight of the field. When that goal is reached, “the contract will be automatically extended to another competition whichever is the priority for AIFF,” he said.
With the national team’s poor history in the Asia Cup in mind, it is clear that the AIFF has no intention of keeping Stimac on once the tournament is complete, or else they would not have set such a lofty goal.
It may sound like a lofty bar to set for the former Croatian World Cup winner, but Prabhakaran claims it was “the decision of the technical committee and is backed by the executive committee.”
India, captained by Sunil Chhetri, advanced to the quarterfinals for the fifth time after finishing first in Group D. They qualified for the Asian Cup for the first time in back-to-back years this year.
Even though they are ranked 19th in Asia and 104th in the world, the Blue Tigers have never made it past the group round of the Asian Cup. This was the case even in 1964 when there were only four teams competing.
India, led by Stimac, will play two exhibition matches in Vietnam on September 24 and 27 against Singapore and the hosts.
Prabhakaran said, “We don’t want to disturb him now, his concentration should be on the team,” when asked if the former teammate of Davor Suker and Zvonimir Boban would take such a contract. Let him return, and then we may talk to him again.
Tributes to Shabbir Ali, Arun Ghosh, and Vijayan with Padma Nominations
Former players Shabbir Ali, Vijayan, and Arun Ghosh have all been nominated for the Padma Shri, and the EC has also announced that technical committee member Manoranajan Bhattacharya would be nominated for the Dhyan Chand.
It is suggested that Jeje Lalpekhlua receive the prestigious Arjuna Award. He also said that the Executive Committee had given its unanimous approval to the candidates they had chosen for the National Awards.
The Indian Arrows, the AIFF’s development team, will be disbanded and the money would be used to establish an elite young league, per a recommendation made by the AIFF’s executive committee.
With immediate effect, the Indian Arrows men’s squad will no longer be competing in the I-League. The money was going to be redirected to start a new top-tier kids league, and the EC was cool with that.
Prabhakaran has stated that investing in young people will help produce a stronger national team in the future.
As of yet, the Youth League has not decided on an age bracket.
Prabhakaran promised that the Youth League’s structure will be explored when the time was right.
The youth league format will be discussed and shared with the technical committee before any final committees are formed.
The clubs in the International Super Competition (ISL) and any other organizations that operate academies will be included in these talks so that their young players can participate in the premier youth league. He did, however, note that an age range for the forthcoming Youth League has not yet been settled upon.
No decision on the different age categories has been made at this time. After consulting with relevant parties, the technical committee will convene a conference call. To determine what is suitable for the Indian system, we must consult with technical experts.
This league will be for the best, so only the best should join. He continued, “As of right now, I know nothing about women’s Indian Arrows, so I can’t remark.”
Tournament hosting fees will be lowered by the AIFF.
The EC has made a number of additional decisions, including lowering tournament fees for national events and eliminating transfer fees for players aged 12 and under and 18 and under.
“A few state organizations have asked that AIFF lower the money it charges for national tournaments. This price drop brings it from Rs 25,000 down to Rs 10,000.
To encourage more youth to get involved in sports, “EC has abolished transfer costs for U-12 players and also U-18 boys and girls teams.” One representative from each state’s organization will serve as a “goodwill ambassador” for the state.
There will be well-known figures from each state among them. In the end, the names will be decided by a technical committee. They will be crucial in improving the standard of football.
Vijayan is interested in forming an Office League.
In response to Vijayan’s suggestion, the EC will investigate the viability of establishing an institutional league in order to revitalize the institutions that have long benefited the country’s football.
The EC also hired a technical director to improve its scouting system.
He must be an Indian and under 55 years old to be appointed. After the TD is appointed, a new scouting structure will be established to choose the youth team, and a new chief scout will be appointed as well, Prabhakaran said.