AIFF's Jiyo campaign
Inept player selection, age-cheating and almost zero activities in most states have jeopardised India’s youth development programmes. Last year, Jharkhand, who won the U-15 title, was punished for fielding five over-age boys. It was followed by 11 players failing age tests for the Reliance Scholarship Programme. And we were told that IMG-Reliance is federation’s maa-baap, but the AIFF website won’t tell us this truth. The federation tried to paint a professional picture on their campaigns, but the junior team’s results in the last couple of years aren’t encouraging. Nicolai Adam and his U-16 boys should munch some Goa’s famed cashew before stepping out on the field against the United Arab Emirates today in the AFC U-16 Championships because West Asian sides have always been a tough nut to crack. Saudi Arabia and Iran are their strong opponents in the group. Former and current AIFF officials will nod their heads in appreciation of federation’s pro...