We Shall Meet Soon - Women's Committee

Several Indian woman players and coaches have spoken about the preferential treatment given to men’s side by the AIFF. These comments came in the wake of India being scrapped by FIFA from the rankings chart for their apparent inactivity on the international front. 

Speaking to Goal.com, Wali Mohammed said, “We will fight for their (women’s) cause. We shall ensure that they get a fair treatment.” When asked as to what the women’s committee was up to all this while, Wali stated that Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi was their working committee chairman and after his illness, the committee never met.

“But, we shall very soon meet and discuss the future of women’s football. If we play some games in the next three months, I am sure we would be included in the next FIFA rankings,” added Wali.

But the AIFF stated that they would want a fresh start for women’s football in India and hence, are concentrating more on age group teams and, that a young team shall be sent to an international tournament in Bangladesh.

“We have to think about the senior girls as well. This situation of being scrapped by FIFA wouldn’t have arisen had we played more games,” said the assistant secretary of Western India Football Federation (WIFA).

The 4-1 away loss to Iran back in 2007 meant that India had no tournaments to play in 2008, according to the AIFF.

“We could have organised some friendlies at least. Just because the team didn’t fare well doesn’t mean that we stop playing altogether,” said Wali on a concluding note.     

Rahul Bali.