AIFF weighs pros and cons of ‘Goal 2011′ project

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April 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Thursday came out with the final plan of the 'Goal 2011' project for the national team's preparation for the 2011 Asian Cup. According to the project, top 25-28 players will be selected and kept together for the 2010-11 season till the Asian Cup in January.

April 13th, 2009 KOLKATA - In a move aimed at educating footballers on the legal nuances of the contracts they sign with clubs, the Bhaichung Bhutia-led Football Players Association of India (FPAI) Monday organised an interaction with a noted legal expert on various aspects of contractual obligations. The FPAI's unique move followed problems faced by players like Steven Dias and N.P.

April 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Eminent football administrator and former player Syed Nasir Ali passed away here Sunday after a heart attack. He was 59 and is survived by wife, three sons and a daughter.

April 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Second division I-League clubs have expressed their unhappiness over the sudden change of venue by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in the middle of the final leg of the league. The fourth and the fifth round of the second division I-League have been shifted to Amity School from the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Gurgaon.

March 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Bharti Enterprises Wednesday decided to drop plans to build a Rs.1 billion state of the art academy at Cuncolim in Goa due to delay in acquiring the land for the project. Last month AIFF's acting president and central minister Praful Patel asked Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to broker peace between warring local football leaders within eight days, failing which the proposed football academy would be shifted to Haryana.

March 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Bharti Enterprises Wednesday decided to scrap plans to build the Rs.1 billion state of the art academy at Cuncolim in Goa due to delay in acquiring the land for the project. The academy will now be shifted to Haryana.

March 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's chief football coach Bob Houghton Friday said the I-League clubs should come forward and help the All India Football Federation (AIFF) achieve its grand plan of giving central contracts to 25 players, who will play exclusively for the national team till the 2011 Asia Cup in Doha. The project, termed 'Goal 2011', was mooted by Englishman Houghton and the AIFF is still weighing its pros and cons.

February 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has scratched Tamil Nadu team Happy Entertainment from the second division of the I-League that starts Saturday after rejecting its request for a name change. Happy Entertainment, which was in Group C of the second division I-League, at the last moment wanted its name changed to Happy Entertainment Netaji Sports Club.

February 22nd, 2009 PANAJI - All India Football Federation (AIFF) acting-president and cabinet minister Praful Patel Saturday asked Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to broker peace between warring local football satraps within eight days, failing which the proposed Bharti football academy would be shifted to Haryana. Speaking at a function held in south Goa, Patel, civil aviation minister, asked the chief minister to transfer the plot proposed for the Rs.1 billion academy to the development authority, who will in turn hand it over to the AIFF and telecom major Bharti.

February 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) Thursday decided to form a special committee to monitor the national team's progress. The committee will comprise chief coach Bob Houghton, three vice-presidents and other members.

February 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - World soccer body FIFA has roped in former French international Vikas Dhorasoo to help Indian football. The Frenchman, with roots in India and Mauritius, met FIFA officials last week in Zurich to discuss his role in the Win in India with India, launched by FIFA president Sepp Blatter in 2007.

February 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The All India Football Federation (AIFF) officials Thursday discussed with English club Manchester United delegation on a possible technical tie-up with the proposed national academy in Goa financed by telecom major Bharti. A three-member United delegation comprising its academy director Brian McClair, business head of the school Steve Jones and consultant Bell Hopps had extensive discussions.

January 20th, 2009 NEW DELHI - European and English champions Manchester United have shown interest in providing technical support to the proposed All India Football Federation (AIFF) academy which will come up in Goa in association with telecom major Bharti. AIFF vice-president Subrata Dutta told IANS Wednesday that the English premier club has assured the federation of its support but the finer details of project are yet to be finalised.

January 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Now that All India Football Federation (AIFF) acting president Praful Patel has said that the work on the proposed Bharati-AIFF academy in Goa will kick-off by this month-end, his colleagues in the federation are keen that it should be run professionally. Three senior members of the AIFF, all vice-presidents, have talked of corporatised professional set-up to administer the Rs.