Jerome Valcke is likely to be the first Fifa general secretary to visit India later this year, Kushal Das, general secretary of the All India Football Federation, said here on Sunday.
“Valcke is likely to visit at the end of March or early April. We’re trying to organise a seminar of all the general secretaries of state associations to give his visit a context," he told HT.
If the 62-year-old Frenchman does come, it would be the most high-profile visit to India by a Fifa official after president Sepp Blatter came in April 2007. India were then 165th in the Fifa rankings. They are 162 now.
Das said Fifa could fund a "performance project" for the AIFF and to that end its team is set to visit India in early March. "We are trying to coincide this visit with the AIFF AGM. The Fifa team will meet all the stakeholders in India and create a development plan."
Blackburn may host
India coach Savio Medeira said after training at the Ambedkar Stadium that the national squad could train in London or Dubai, beginning mid-February, for the AFC Challenge Cup in Kathmandu from March 8-19. Das said AIFF was talking to Blackburn Rovers' Indian owners Venkys and it is possible the national team could be hosted by the Blackburn academy. India's camp for the AFC Challenge Cup is likely to begin on February 16, Medeira said.
Blackburn may host
India coach Savio Medeira said after training at the Ambedkar Stadium that the national squad could train in London or Dubai, beginning mid-February, for the AFC Challenge Cup in Kathmandu from March 8-19. Das said AIFF was talking to Blackburn Rovers' Indian owners Venkys and it is possible the national team could be hosted by the Blackburn academy. India's camp for the AFC Challenge Cup is likely to begin on February 16, Medeira said.