AIFF committee decides to go ahead with 2011 Goal project

AIFF has decided on principle to go ahead with the 2011 Goal Project to build a strong team for the 2011 Asian Cup to be held in Qatar.

A committee comprising senior members of the All India Football Federation on Thursday decided on principle to go ahead with the 2011 Goal Project to build a strong team for the 2011 Asian Cup to be held in Qatar.

In a meeting held in New Delhi on Thursday,the committee discussed the feasibility of the project where 25 players would be adopted by the federation and provided intensive training and exposure for the Asian Cup for which India have qualified after 24 years.

The cost of the project is around Rs 40 crore,which would also include paying the players’ salaries and keeping them free of club commitments.

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The committee comprises AIFF vice-presidents Subrata Dutta,AR Khaleel,Ankur Dutta,treasurer Hardev Jadeja and secretary general Alberto Colaco.

National coach Bob Houghton was also present in the meeting.

The committee’s view would be passed on to the AIFF’s president in charge,Praful Patel.

The committee members and Houghton are expected to meet the Union Civil Aviation minister next month to finalise the national team’s training programme.

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In an unrelated development,the AIFF is likely to vote in favour of Mohammad Bin Hammam as president at the Asian Football Confederation elections to be held in May this year.

Hammam,accompanied by eight associates,reached Delhi on a private jet last evening to lobby for India’s vote in the AFC presidential election against Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa of Bahrain.

Hammam,who was received by the AIFF vice-presidents and secretary Colaco,paid a visit to ailing president Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi at the hospital.

He attended a dinner hosted in his favour. He didn’t promise India anything and rather urged the AIFF executive committee to vote in his favour. The Qatari left the country this morning.