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Indian football is on the rise and so are the opportunities for Indian clubs to showcase their talent on the international stage. According to All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey, there are three or four countries that are keen to invite Indian clubs to play in their tournaments.
Chaubey, who took charge of AIFF just recently, has been working hard to improve the profile and performance of Indian football at all levels. The new president has also been building relations with other football federations and stakeholders across the world, to provide more exposure and experience for Indian players and coaches.
In an interview with The Times of India, Chaubey revealed that he has been in talks with some countries that have a significant Indian diaspora, such as the UK, South Africa, and UAE, to arrange invitational tournaments for Indian clubs.
“Don’t be surprised to see some of the clubs from India go and play overseas, like in London, outskirts of London, South African cities, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi (in UAE),” Chaubey said. “The idea is the more our players play overseas, their fear (against top opposition and players) will go. They will get confidence. Clubs will have four to five national team players, so it eventually helps everyone.”
Chaubey said that such tournaments would not only benefit the Indian clubs but also help promote Indian football among local and global audiences. He said that he has received positive responses from the countries he has approached and hopes to finalize some deals soon.
“I’ve been speaking with federation presidents and there are three or four countries where clubs can go and take part in invitational four-club tournaments. Countries with the presence of the Indian population can help in creating a buzz for a 7-10 day tournament. They are all keen,” he said.
The president also revealed that he had invited Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, former Qatar FA president and current FIFA Council member from Asia, to watch the SAFF Championship final as a special guest. Interestingly, the AIFF passed on an opportunity to host World Cup winners Argentina in a friendly because of a lack of funds. The details of these highly competitive friendlies against foreign clubs are yet to be revealed.
