AIFF conducts Grassroots session ahead of FIFA Live Your Goals

AIFF Media 

The All India Football Federation conducted a two day informative Grassroots Session on June 26-27, 2015 at the new look Cooperage in Mumbai, Maharashtra, building up to the FIFA Live Your Goals, which is slated to kick-off on Sunday. (June 28, 2015)

Members of the Indian Women’s National Team and local participants from WIFA enthusiastically engaged in the session, which aims to extend the outreach of Women’s Football, whilst spraying the expertise of veterans like Bembem Devi and Bala Devi amongst the young crop, enabling them to learn from the very best.

All India Football Federation’s Technical Director Scott O’ Donell, who played a vital role in organizing this imperative workshop for Women’s Football opines that the influence of veterans will not only enable kids to learn the minute details of the game, but will also motivate them in the process.

Talking exclusively to www.the-aiff.com, O’Donell said, “We have engineered this workshop to inspire the young crop. And that can be only done if their role models teach them. We have aimed at just that”

“It is imperative for Women’s Football to develop and extend its outreach. This Session alongwith the FIFA Live Your Goals, is one the many positive steps taken in that direction”

“It is not only satisfying but encouraging to see interest foster amongst young girls”, O’Donell added.

The 26 Participants, learn the basic fundamentals of Grassroots Football in their theory sessions. And then, emulate and spread them out for the young kids to learn, whilst engaging them with several Footballing activities.

“We are as excited as the kids to engage in this Grassroots Session”, expressed the legendary Bembem Devi to www.the-aiff.com.

“Conducting a Grassroots Session is very new to me, but I am loving the engagement with the kids. This new initiative by AIFF is bound to bloom”.

Over a course of two days, 126 girls participated in the Grassroots Session, indicating that interest is starting to foster amongst the Women of our country.

“It is always a pleasant sight to see young girls engage in Footballing activities”, opined Bala Devi.

“This is a start of something positive and something new, which will take Women’s Football in India to new heights”, she concluded. 

FIFA World Cup winner Marco Materazzi to visit Bangalore Football Stadium tomorrow

We might remember the former member of Azzurri for the infamous headbutt incident at the FIFA World Cup final 2006, but this World Cup winner is on a different mission. 

For the first time in the history of Karnataka, a FIFA World Cup winner and Inter Milan legend Marco Materazzi will be at the Bangalore Football Stadium at 4:45pm to add glory to the BDFA Super division game between MEG and ADE.

This is an initiative from Inter Milan to support the KSFA and BDFA in developing the game of football. 

Around 1500 passes are available at NIKE Stores on first come first serve basis across Bangalore through the following outlets:

• NIKE Store, Brigade Road
• NIKE Store, Indiranagar
• NIKE Store, Mantri Mall - First floor
• NIKE Store, Orion Mall – Ground Floor
• NIKE Store, Garuda Mall – Second Floor

 In addition to these passes the BDFA will also issue tickets to the interested football fans which are prices at just INR 50 and INR 10. The total capacity for the Stadium is 10000.

Also, Marco Materazzi will be accompanied by first team coach, Stefano Rapetti and a top official of the club, Ms. Barbara Biggi, Head of Marketing & International Business.

Marco Materazzi, Stefano Rapetti, and Barbara Biggi are here to announce the start of the AVA INTER Milan Football Academy. The AVA Inter Academy will be functional from 1st June 2014. Marco  amd Inter officials will fly on 24th May morning to Mumbai for the scouting through the NIKE Tournament to select the 1st batch of talent. 

Special Events

Special events are planned at the Bangalore Football Stadium - Marco Materazzi will interact with the fans at the stadium, show his skills with the other footballer and few lucky ones will get Nike Football signed on spot by Marco in addition to these there will be 20 lucky winners selected for a meet and greet with Marco.  

The personally signed footballs will be kicked by Marco towards the stand for the lucky ones to grab. 

FIFA prez Blatter congratulates Bengaluru FC

AIFF media

FIFA President Mr. Joseph S Blatter has congratulated Airtel I-League Champions Bengaluru FC on “winning the I-League championship in their debut season.” 

In a letter to All India Football Federation, Mr. Blatter wrote: “Please convey my warmest wishes to all of the players, the manager, the technical and medical staff as well as all the team’s supporters, as each part of this organisation have no doubt been instrumental in their club’s victory.” 

“On behalf of the world football community, I would like to thank Bengaluru FC for the excitement they bring to fans of the beautiful game, and wish them all the best for the future,” his letter further read. 

Bengaluru FC finished on 47 points to emerge Champions in the 2013-14 edition of the Airtel I-League in their debut season. 

FIFA-Interpol Workshop in Delhi to enlighten on evils of match manipulation

AIFF Media Team

A FIFA-Interpol Workshop on Tackling Match Fixing and Corruption in Football will be held from January 15-16, 2013 in New Delhi. The Workshop is part of FIFA-Interpol Training, Education and Prevention initiative and is being partnered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Besides representatives from FIFA, Interpol -- the World’s largest Police Organisation, and CBI, the Workshop and would also be attended by representatives from Delhi Police. Officials from Mumbai Police have also been invited for the same. 

Furthermore, representatives from All India Football Federation (AIFF), International Cricket Council (ICC), Football Club owners would also be present along with representatives from the Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs. 

Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran, FIFA Development Officer for South and Central Asia who is coordinating the two-day meet said the priority stays to “educate all stakeholders.” 

“FIFA has a partnership with Interpol since 2011 and the focus is to put into place the preventive measures and educate all the stakeholders and key players about the menace of match manipulations. We intend to engage all the law enforcing agencies in the act,” Dr. Prabhakaran told www.the-aiff.com. 

“I need to complement All India Football Federation for being proactive and coming on board for bringing this initiative to India,” he added. 

“A Partnership development meeting involving the key stakeholders of Football and Law Enforcement Agencies would also be held at the end of Workshop,” Dr. Prabhakaran informed. “This Group will be taking the discussion forward and put in place the framework and continue the process of educating all about the manipulation and related issues.” 

As part of the Program, the two-day Workshop will throw light on various match-fixing scenarios and the links involved in it. A separate session will be devoted on Interpol demonstrating as how to combat ‘Match-fixing.’
The tool available in the fight against corruption in sport including identifying key stakeholders, importance of information collection and sharing, training and education and how to overcome barriers and motivate key factors will furthermore be explained.