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Dr.Shaji Prabhakaran Files His Papers For The AIFF General Secretary's Post
Dr.Shaji Prabhakaran has filed his nomination for the position of All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary just a day before the closing date for all applications...
15-Jul-2009 10:47:07 AM
With the race
of the post of the Indian FA general secretary heating up, the former AIFF
Director of Vision India and National team has put in his papers to for the
desired seat.
“I have been working all along in football. The role of general secretary is to assist the President and the Executive Committee to form the best policies to achieve the vision and I believe, I can do justice to it having worked with the AIFF for the last five years or so,” said the now freelance football consultant, as he describes himself.
Having completed his doctorate in football from Gwalior in 2000, the former manager cum coach of Chandigarh Football Academy has an impressive resume. He highlighted the importance of team work over individual brilliance and added none must be alienated.
“Everyone wants football to grow and it’s important to work as a team. To achieve the vision, which to me is to play in the 2030 World Cup, we must do whatever possible to actualize it.
“We have to work collectively, as it’s not about a few individuals. Everyone involved in football today has a role to play in uplifting the sport,” said Dr.Shaji.
The 37 year old highlights development must begin on all fronts simultaneously after a series of brain-storming session by the “football communal.”
“It’s not about what I consider good for Indian football. We need to have robust dialogues with everyone involved and work out a strategy for all areas and implement it simultaneously. It’s fundamental that we don’t hold any exclusive meetings and instead, invite inputs from everyone. If you don’t allow people at the planning level, automatically at the operational stage, they are out of it,” explained the professor.
Everyone is well aware of Indian football’s potential to grow in the coming years, and it’s also imperative to know what’s ailing it. Dr.Shaji points two areas, which have inhibited the escalation of football in India.
“There is an immediate need to bring all the isolated parts under one umbrella to achieve our targets. You have a number of people working for football, running some academies, some football related programmes. I feel we must bring them in sync with the vision and thus, incorporate them within the system.
“Generating revenue is, of course, a top priority as without surpluses you cannot invest in developmental schemes,” said the former AIFF employee.
With the AIFF having problems to find sponsorship and even recover money from those who owe them, the new general secretary’s primary task would be ensuring a healthy environment which facilitates the inflow of cash.
“It’s the greatest challenge one faces, but I feel it’s not impossible. We have to re-brand a lot of the existing properties in all competitions, which have a scope for improvement. We have to sell them as an attractive property in the market so that nothing remains a liability to the AIFF.”
Dr.Shaji opines that a perceptive change has to come in Indian football from all quarters, which includes the fans, officials, clubs, state associations and lastly, the media, who have a crucial role to play.
“In the 21st century, the closed door policy can’t work. We have to ensure more transparency in the system, which shall put to rest all speculations. We have to corporatize our set-up and be pro-active with the media,” added Dr.Shaji.
Having worked with the current general secretary, Alberto Colaco, Dr.Shaji thanked the 61 year old for making the post of general secretary an “attractive” one.
“The fact that so many applications have come in goes to show that Mr.Colaco has made the post an attractive one. I am thankful to him for giving me the opportunities and help me get enough exposure.”
Rahul Bali.
“I have been working all along in football. The role of general secretary is to assist the President and the Executive Committee to form the best policies to achieve the vision and I believe, I can do justice to it having worked with the AIFF for the last five years or so,” said the now freelance football consultant, as he describes himself.
Having completed his doctorate in football from Gwalior in 2000, the former manager cum coach of Chandigarh Football Academy has an impressive resume. He highlighted the importance of team work over individual brilliance and added none must be alienated.
“Everyone wants football to grow and it’s important to work as a team. To achieve the vision, which to me is to play in the 2030 World Cup, we must do whatever possible to actualize it.
“We have to work collectively, as it’s not about a few individuals. Everyone involved in football today has a role to play in uplifting the sport,” said Dr.Shaji.
The 37 year old highlights development must begin on all fronts simultaneously after a series of brain-storming session by the “football communal.”
“It’s not about what I consider good for Indian football. We need to have robust dialogues with everyone involved and work out a strategy for all areas and implement it simultaneously. It’s fundamental that we don’t hold any exclusive meetings and instead, invite inputs from everyone. If you don’t allow people at the planning level, automatically at the operational stage, they are out of it,” explained the professor.
Everyone is well aware of Indian football’s potential to grow in the coming years, and it’s also imperative to know what’s ailing it. Dr.Shaji points two areas, which have inhibited the escalation of football in India.
“There is an immediate need to bring all the isolated parts under one umbrella to achieve our targets. You have a number of people working for football, running some academies, some football related programmes. I feel we must bring them in sync with the vision and thus, incorporate them within the system.
“Generating revenue is, of course, a top priority as without surpluses you cannot invest in developmental schemes,” said the former AIFF employee.
With the AIFF having problems to find sponsorship and even recover money from those who owe them, the new general secretary’s primary task would be ensuring a healthy environment which facilitates the inflow of cash.
“It’s the greatest challenge one faces, but I feel it’s not impossible. We have to re-brand a lot of the existing properties in all competitions, which have a scope for improvement. We have to sell them as an attractive property in the market so that nothing remains a liability to the AIFF.”
Dr.Shaji opines that a perceptive change has to come in Indian football from all quarters, which includes the fans, officials, clubs, state associations and lastly, the media, who have a crucial role to play.
“In the 21st century, the closed door policy can’t work. We have to ensure more transparency in the system, which shall put to rest all speculations. We have to corporatize our set-up and be pro-active with the media,” added Dr.Shaji.
Having worked with the current general secretary, Alberto Colaco, Dr.Shaji thanked the 61 year old for making the post of general secretary an “attractive” one.
“The fact that so many applications have come in goes to show that Mr.Colaco has made the post an attractive one. I am thankful to him for giving me the opportunities and help me get enough exposure.”
Rahul Bali.
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