‘No room for any compromise as far as selection is concerned’

New Delhi: Representatives from thirty State Associations attended the ‘Coca Cola Cup Workshop 2014’ with All India Football Federation’s Technical Team at the AIFF Headquarters, Football House in Dwarka, New Delhi on Tuesday (July 1). The Workshop aimed at explaining the procedure for selection of the Indian National Team for the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup.

Besides, representatives from Coca Cola also attended the Workshop.

“This is one of the most important Workshops I am attending as this will guide us as to how to select the Indian Team for the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup,” Kushal Das, General Secretary, All India Football Federation stated at his opening address. “We need to understand that the Coca Cola Cup is the primary source for selection for India to field a competitive Team in the Event,” he added. “I thank all of you for coming here and stay confident about your cooperation on the issue.”

“It’s important to stick to the AIFF philosophy as the selected boys will directly shift to the two Academies which will prepare the squad for the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup,” Das maintained.

At present, the AIFF Regional Academy in Goa which had been operational since February 2013 has 34 boys in its roster.

“We presently have 34 Players in our Academy in Goa and they are divided into two groups. That means we have room for 13 more Players in each of the Teams. And if we find better quality Players from the Coca Cola Cup, some of the Players presently employed with us will have to go home,” Mr. Scott O’Donell, Technical Director, AIFF Academies, also Director of Coach Education, AIFF, uttered.

“This is the preparation for the World Cup and there can’t be any sentiment involved. There just can’t be any compromise” he maintained. “We need to find and pick India’s best Players to walk onto the field for the 2017 U-17 World Cup. AIFF President Praful Patel and Kushal Das have repeatedly stressed on the importance of using the Coca Cola Cup as the scouting platform for the Tournament.”

Players born on or after 01.01.2000 to 31.12.2002 are eligible to play in the Coca Cola Cup.

“We will be keeping on looking for Players and it will never end. Even if we find a Player who’s better than the Academy Players even prior to two months of the kick-off of the Championship, we will rope him in,” Scott mentioned.