Praful Patel heaps praise on India women’s football team ahead of AFC Asian Cup
AIFF president Praful Patel lavishes praise on India women’s football team as he claims that the entire nation is proud of their performance over the first six months of the ongoing season. AIFF Director Abhishek Yadav added the government will surely back the women’s team at the AFC Asian Cup.
Veteran Indian forward Sunil Chhetri & Ashalata Devi were elected as the "Footballer of the Year" in the men and women category respectively as announced by the AIFF in a statement yesterday. The Indian football association’s president - Praful Patel - has gone on to add some positive words directed towards the Indian women’s football team ahead of the upcoming AFC Asian Cup to be played in the coming months. Ahead of the AFC qualifiers, the women's team is currently training in Delhi for the Cotif Cup that will be played later this month.
“All India Football Federation is extremely proud of you. I am very proud of you. The entire country is also very proud of you. We have been focussing a lot on women’s football in our effort to bring glory to the sport. We know that one cannot improve without sufficient exposure. Hence, we have been stressing on exposure tours for the team. Till the time you play better teams, one cannot improve.
“You are a comparatively new squad. Utilise the exposure, and build up your career. The manner in which you have been playing has been commendable. You have to further move forward. It’s our duty to support you, and women’s football, and will. The changing character of Indian Football is reflected in your squad. I see many girls from the North-Eastern region of India in the team. The passion in the team is unmistakable. We want Indian football to be broad based,” Patel told the team in an official meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.
In addition to that, Abhishek Yadav also shared the same sentiment of the AIFF chief as he assured the Indian women’s team total support ahead of the AFC Asian Cup.
“Women’s team have come a long way in the last one year. They have put up exceptional performances, and I would like to congratulate them for their achievements. I am also very confident that the federation, and the government will extend all their support for the team for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup,” Yadav added.
