Women’s U-17 league, revival of old meets on new AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey’s mind

football to unearthing talent at grassroot levels to reviving some old tournaments, Kalyan Chaubey has charted his course of action after assuming charge of the AIFF last week. The former India goalkeeper has come to take up the administrator’s role at a crucial juncture when Indian football is facing a number of challenges in recent times.

Chaubey, who also played for Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, said the new AIFF dispensation has keen on unveiling a “roadmap” after 100 days, involving all stakeholders of the game. In his first meet-the-press since taking the AIFF reins as its president, Chaubey on Thursday delineated his plans and promises in his attempt to given Indian football “a right and proper direction.” Introduction of women’s U-17 leagueAs the country is gearing up to host the women’s under-17 World Cup next month, Chaubey said a junior league for women players is on the cards.

“We are going to introduce an under-17 league for women players in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India,” Chaubey said. “We’re also trying to improve the IWL (Indian Women’s League) and want to have a minimum salary cap for women footballers so that there’s not much disparity with their male counterparts in terms of salary and it should be at a respectable level.” Reviving some old meetsMany domestic football tournaments, which were once considered as cradles of local talents, have either ceased to exist in the past decade or have been drastically reduced in significance.

Having taken part in some of them during his playing days, Chaubey said a new focus on Santosh Trophy and reviving the Federation Cup is on his mind. “The tournaments that Indian footballers have grown up watching, we will revive them,” he said.