The All India Football Federation (AIFF) may have to shell out a whopping Rs.1.15 crore to send the U-23 men's and women's team to the Asian Games in the South Korean city of Incheon, Sep 19-Oct 4, as the government is unlikely to clear the trips.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is planning to send a 900-strong contingent, including players and officials for the Asian Games. But the sports ministry, apparently unhappy with the men's football team's performance, is unlikely to clear the two squads.
The ministry, however, had cleared Rs.50 lakh for the men team's exposure trip to the Czech Republic. But the AIFF may have to shell out the Rs.40 lakh for the men's and the women team's exposure trip in China ahead of the Asian Games. The men's team is already in China and the women's team is also expected to join them soon. Both the teams are expected to travel to Incheon directly from China.
Ajit Sharan, secretary in the sports ministry, told IANS that they are awaiting a final recommendation from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on the status of the football team.
"We are yet to take a final call and are awaiting final recommendations from SAI. We have set some rules and we will be taking past performances into account while sending teams for mega-events. For team sports, they have to finish among the top eight in Asia. The rules are simple and we have to follow it," Sharan told IANS here Tuesday.
A top AIFF official rushed to meet IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta Tuesday to explore ways of sending the teams if the government doesn't clear it.
"The sports ministry is yet to make a final decision but the AIFF can still send the team even if they are financed by the government. The teams will be cleared at 'no cost to government'. In that case the AIFF will have to spend approximately Rs.1.15 crore to send the two teams. We are still exploring options but we are hopeful that the team will be financed by the government," a top official of the AIFF told IANS.
The men's team is ranked 26th while the women are ranked 11th in Asia.
The men's team, which won the gold medal twice in 1951 and 1962, are currently ranked 150th in the world. They have been clubbed with the United Arab Emirates and Jordan in Group G and they have slim chances of qualifying to the round of 16. Two top teams for the eight groups will move into the next round.
The under-23 team recently lost to arch-rivals Pakistan 0-2, which was their first defeat against the neighbours for the first time at home in 55 years.
India have not done well under Wim Koevarmans, who is paid 17,000 euros (Rs.13.56 lakh) per month, ever since the Dutch took over in 2012. His only success was the Nehru Cup triumph in 2012 but what followed next was a string of losses. Under him, India, 2008 AFC Challenge Cup champions, failed to qualify for the 2014 edition and lost the 2013 SAFF Cup final to Afghanistan.
The Dutchman's last assignment as the chief coach will be the Incheon Asian Games (Sep 19-Oct 4) and the contract is highly unlikely to be extended unless the team puts up an incredible performance. The AIFF is now planning to promote the 54-year-old Koevarmans as the technical director as his compatriot Rob Baan is unlikely to renew his contract that ends in December.
