AIFF celebrates platinum jubilee

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Olympian Chuni Goswami unveils the All India Football Federation’s platinum jubilee souvenir in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The All India Football Federation celebrated its platinum jubilee in the capital on Wednesday, with the occasion graced by the members of the 1951 and the 1962 Asian Games gold medal winning squads.

Chuni Goswami, captain of the 1962 team along with P.K. Banerjee, Prodyut Burman, Prasanta Sinha, Franco, Ethiraj, Afzal and Arumanayagam were present. AIFF president Praful Patel presented a silver plaque and a shawl to each of them.
The evening also marked the unveiling of the platinum jubilee souvenir and technical director Rob Baan’s ‘masterplan’.
“It’s a personal honour to be a part of AIFF’s platinum jubilee year,” Patel said. “I always maintain that managing football is far more challenging than managing a ministry. We have to work that extra bit to achieve our goal. We have completed 75years, now we should set goals for the next 25 years.
“I ask all of you to work as a football family. We need to emulate and exceed the feats of the yesteryears. I request our Dutch coaches to help us achieve our goal.”
Speaking on behalf of those felicitated, Goswami added: “I’m overwhelmed by the reception. I thank AIFF for this. The 1962 Asian Games will forever be etched in memory as the golden days of Indian football. But it’s time to move ahead and not rest on laurels. Indian football is going ahead as we boast of a capable coaching staff.”
Added Banerjee. “The AIFF has always supported its players. I stay grateful to them to honour us at such a platform.”
Later, Baan unveiled his masterplan, ‘Lakshya’, the doctrine that holds the future of Indian football.
Said the 69-year old: “This is not my masterplan. After coming to India I met so many people, visited state associations and attended so many seminars and camps. We interacted and the suggestions have been taken into account.
“I believe kids need to brought into football. They should be given proper space to play and be educated. Coaches and referees also need to be educated.
“The curriculum of football should be updated. Take Barcelona for example. They often play without a striker. The dynamics of football curriculum has changed and we need to stay updated.”