We need to create a competitive environment amongst youngsters, says AIFF technical director

Former Romanian international Isac Doru's appointment as the new AIFF technical director was a stepping stone in Indian football. The radical European has been part of Arsene Wenger's coaching staff in Japan and arrived in India amidst much fanfare. Since his appointment, Doru has been adamant that a change in mentality amongst budding Indian youngsters across the nation could spur the country towards great heights as far as football is concerned. 

This ideology is something that the former Romania coach has employed in one of AIFF's new ventures called 'Baby Leagues'. “We needed to create a competitive environment in which the players are developing their creativity, self-expression, passion of the game and discovering the value of friendship throughout the team. That was the idea of these Baby Leagues,” AIFF Technical Director Isac Doru told PTI.

AIFF general secretary - Kushal Das - echoed his superior's sentiment as he stressed that focus at the grassroots level is essential for the development of the game in India. 

“The formative years of a child have always been the bedrock of a successful footballing culture. The AIFF is now stressing to popularise the sport among the kids. We aim to have every kid playing football especially from ages U-6 to U-12. The more they play, the more Indian football will benefit,” Das added. 

In Pulwama, where more than 40 CRPF personnel died in a terrorist attack in February, two Baby Leagues were conducted in quick succession last year with a total of 192 kids across U-9, U-10 and U-11 age groups participating in 168 matches.

"We have received great response not only from Srinagar but from everywhere in Jammu and Kashmir, may be because of Real Kashmir’s performance in the I-League. A Baby League in Baramulla is in the pipeline. 

“We had conducted a snow league also which was an instant hit among the kids. As per Fifa guidelines, we used red paint for line-marking and fluorescent yellow ball. Almost 200 kids poured in for the snow league as well as the regular one,” J&K Development Officer Bilal Punjabi said.