Big increase in teams for U-18 and U-16 football competitions

AIFF’s Executive Committee. Photo AIFF

NEW DELHI, JULY 28
All India Football Federation (AIFF) Praful Patel has attributed a sizable increase in number of teams for the U-18 League and the U-16 Youth League is because the federation has been working extensively on the Grassroots and Youth Development. Mr Patel said: "This is a huge positive step."
The AIFF’s Executive Committee meeting which was held today under the chairmanship of Mr Patel, at the Constitution Club of India was apprised about the approval of the participation of 40 odd teams in the U-18 League (post inspections). This is a significant increase as in 2015-16, there was a participation of 28 teams in the League.
Besides, the U-16 Youth League has also witnessed a massive increase in teams. While in 2015-16, 39 teams had participated, the forthcoming edition will see over 50 teams battling for the top honours.
Mr. Patel said "It highlights the interest about the game among the younger generation. AIFF has been working extensively on the Grassroots and Youth Development, the results of which are beginning to show", he added.
The first edition of the U-13 League is scheduled to kick-off in 2017-18 season.
The draft for the proposed restructuring of Indian Club Football was put forward to the Executive Committee for the members along with the comments received from I-League and 2nd Division Clubs. The members of the Committee have been asked to come back with their suggestions.
Furthermore, the President suggested the formation of a working committee to initiate an extensive dialogue involving all stakeholders for the best possible path including discussion with AFC and FIFA.
The Committee also ratified the proposal of providing a time span of one year to 2nd division Clubs to complete their I-League Club licensing criteria instead of the prevailing three-month span.
The fee of the Central Registration system (CRS) was reduced from Rs. 15000 to Rs. 5000 for foreign Players and to Rs. 5000 to Rs. 2000 for Indian Players. In addition, Women Players playing in the proposed Women’s League will have to pay a CRS fee of Rs. 1000 while all other Women Players need to play an amount of Rs. 100.
The AIFF regulations on working with the intermediaries were approved by the committee.
Meanwhile, the Committee congratulated the Indian National Team for an authoritative display against Laos in the play-offs for the 2019 UAE Asian Cup Qualifiers where India won 7-1 on aggregate.
Javier Ceppi also briefed the Committee about the organistion of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017.
The proposed new logo of the AIFF was presented to the Committee and approved. The launch date of the logo will be decided soon by the president.
AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das; Vice Presidents Subrata Dutta, KMI Mather, Shrinivas Dempo, Subhash Chopra, Larsing Ming; Treasurer ZA Thakur; Sara Pilot; and all other members except AR Khaleel and Jesiah Villavarayar attended the meeting.
AIFF Technical Director Scott O’Donnell, Bhaichung Bhutia, Chairman, Technical Committee, AIFF; Javier Ceppi, Tournament Director, FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 and Joy Bhattacharya, Project Director, FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 were also present on the occasion.
Mr. Chirag Tanna and Mr. Rochak Langer representing FSDL attended the meeting.

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Badal sees end of Navjot Sidhu's political career

TAPA (BARNALA), JULY 28
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that former MP Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu would meet the same fate as that of former Chief Minister Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala and former Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal, who were sent to political oblivion by people for ditching their mother party. 

Addressing the gathering during Sangat Darshan in Bhadaur assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister said bereft of any ideologies both these leaders have back stabbed their mother parties adding that Mr. Sidhu was not an exception to it. He said that though Mr. Sidhu had deceived his party in the hope of ‘bright future’ but people of state would not forgive him and teach him a lesson for treachery because they have a strong disliking for people who deceive their parties. “Opportunists and fugitive political leaders like Sidhu have no place in Punjab politics and people will teach him a befitting lesson”, added Mr Badal. 

The Chief Minister said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was proving to be a haven for all the fugitives and unprincipled politicians, who hardly have any base amongst people. He said that in fact AAP was a band of opportunists and fugitives who have joined hands for looting the people of state. “These people don’t have any ideological bonding but have joined hands in false hope of assuming power in the state” added Mr. Badal.

Making a scathing attack on state Congress Chief Captain Amarinder Singh, the Chief Minister said that the Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar has a proven anti-farmer track record. Citing the examples, he said that on one hand SAD-BJP alliance had been providing free power to farmers but on the other during his regime Amarinder had discontinued this thereby putting enormous burden on farmers. Likewise, Mr Badal said that the state Congress Chief was a part and parcel of the conspiracy to rob waters of state by constructing Satluj Yamuna Link canal. “It is on record that Amarinder had welcomed the then Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi to lay foundation stone of this canal”, he added.

Highlighting the significance of Sangat Darshans, the Chief Minister said that it was the flagship program of SAD-BJP alliance government aimed at ensuring the well being of every strata of society. He said that this was a pro-people exercise being conducted thoroughly in a transparent manner. However, Mr. Badal said that envy of development and welfare of people the Congress leaders have always opposed this move.

Meanwhile during Sangat Darshan at Tapa, the Chief Minister announced that the work to complete under construction Tehsil complex and Bus Stand at Tapa Mandi would be completed soon. Likewise, he said that a team headed by Director Local Government and Chief Engineer would soon visit the town for preparing a master plan to give facelift to it.

Later on interacting with the media persons at village Dhilwan, the Chief Minister, while lauding the announcement of Union Cabinet to set up All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bathinda, said that it would prove to be a big boon for residents of Malwa hinterland. Mr. Badal said that it would help in imparting world class health infrastructure and services to the people of this region at affordable rates. He said that by approving AIIMS at Bathinda the Union Cabinet has given a much awaited gift to people of Malwa region.

Slamming the entire opposition for defaming the Punjabis by labeling them as drug addicts, the Chief Minister reiterated that magnitude of drug problem was much less than that in many other states of the country. He said that forces inimical to state were hell bent upon branding the Punjabis as drug addicts just to present a wrong picture of the state before the country. Mr. Badal said that these political parties were just defaming state for the sake of vested political interests whereas the hard working people of state were fighting nation’s war against drug.

Earlier welcoming Chief Minister, his former Principal Secretary and senior Akali leader Mr. Darbara Singh Guru thanked him for sparing his valuable time to hold Sangat Darshan in Bhadaur assembly segment to give boost to its overall development.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, senior Akali leader Mr. Darbara Singh Guru, his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Bhupinder Singh Rai and Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Gurpreet Singh Toor.

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One year Gatka Diploma Course at Khalsa College

AMRITSAR, JULY 6

 With a view to preserve and promote martial art `Gatka’, historic Khalsa College and Dubai based NGO, Sarbat Da Bhalla (SDB) today signed an MoU to start One year Diploma Course at College campus `free of cost’. The major portion of fee of students opting to adopt the course, starting from current academic session, would be sponsored by the SDB and remaining part to be born by College.

 The aim of the academic program is to encourage traditional martial art which is otherwise vanishing. The MoU was signed by Principal of Khalsa College Dr.Mehal Singh and SDB Managing Trustee and a well known philanthropist SP Singh Oberio in presence of Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC) honorary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, who was the brain behind the whole move.

 The Diploma would cover the one year academic and sports program and would be opened to students who have passed 10+2 examination and even degree students. Chhina said that it was historic day that such an initiative has been taken to promote the art that is being forgotten in the modern times. ``The art form Gatka has great religious and military significance in the Indian and Punjabi traditions. The Sikh Gurus took the martial practice to its zenith’’, said Chhina.

 Mr.Oberoi said they wanted to help the students who want to study and practice Gatka. He said there are ample opportunities of career choice after completion of the course as the Gatka Instructors are in demand world over.  Principal Dr.Mehal Singh said the new course is open for admissions students will be immensely benefitted from the Diploma course academically and in sports arena. He said so far only Nihangs’ (baptized martial Sikhs) are preserving the art.

 ``The martial art form is virtually getting extinct which is a matter of grave concern. This is an attempt to provide academic base to the traditional art’’, said Chhina adding that the KCGC is committed to preserve and promote the history and culture of Punjab.