Nehru Cup, Bhutia to be discussed in meeting

Till hours before the emergency committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) meets at 1 pm on Wednesday, the agenda hadn’t been circulated. Blame it on AIFF general-secretary Alberto Colaco's indisposition.

Updated on: Jul 21, 2009, 23:00:22 IST

Hindustan Times | By Anonymous, New Delhi/Kolkata

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Till hours before the emergency committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) meets at 1 pm on Wednesday, the agenda hadn’t been circulated.

Blame it on AIFF general-secretary Alberto Colaco's indisposition.

“I have had a serious bout of food poisoning and was on drips at the weekend,” Colaco said from New Delhi on Tuesday explaining why not everyone among the four vice-presidents, treasurer and working president Praful Patel - who comprise the emergency committee - have got the agenda.

Colaco didn't disclose the agenda to the media since members hadn't got it but an AIFF source said the Nehru Cup and India's preparation for the biennial meet would be discussed. Bhaichung Bhutia's club dilemma, club licensing, artificial turf and the applications for the I-League CEO's post and the general-secretary would be discussed.

“According to the constitution, the prerogative of selecting the general secretary is the president's,” Colaco said, when asked how the applications would be screened.

Savio Messias, the Goa Football Association (GFA) secretary, and Shaji Prabhakaran, who till recently served as the Vision India director, have are among those in the fray to replace Colaco who has sought to be relieved “as soon as possible.”

Former India player SS Hakim and AIFF's director of competitions Anil Kamath are said to be in the running for the CEO's post.

Of the lot, Hakim is the only candidate to have played the game at the highest level apart from officiating FIFA matches.

Messias has been at the helm of GFA since 2003. “We need to involve the state associations and they must be made aware of their responsibilities. Unless and until the sate units are taken into confidence, Indian football will not move forward,” he said.

“Development is going to be a slow process and the AIFF, at the moment, should set realistic goals instead of dreaming about playing in the World Cup,” the GFA chief said.

Prabhakaran felt that “we should emphasis more on youth development”.

“The best people should be given the task to formulate policies and execute them,” he said.

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