[First posted on Sunday, February 12, 2006]
Unknown to many, a brand new HQ of All India Football Federation (AIFF) has sprung up at Dwarka in West Delhi. A 3-storey structure on a modest 2000 sft, AIFF’s head office will cater to many needs rolled in one destination.
To start with, it’ll house the inevitable administrative setup on the ground floor. Next up will see offices of national coach, referees and support staff. A conference room is located too. The top floor has 14 rooms of double-occupancy to accommodate players. If and when there’s selection camp in Delhi for the national team, the players, coach and other concerned officials will stay here.
Besides accommodation, the football house will also have its own dedicated restaurant, and an air-conditioned gym to complete the list of necessities. The grand edifice will sport a replica of football at one corner on the top to proclaim its identity.
That the building could come up with FIFA’s donation is small consolation. Yet a little jubilation is in order, what with AIFF’s purse fatting by 2.7 billion rupees selling tv rights to the Zee group.
If the AIFF succeeds to promote football the way cricket has been done in our sports-starved country, it would indeed be a great boost to overall advancement of Indian sports.
For, football is not only a very popular game world over, it’s money-spinner too on a scale unimaginable in India. High time we put our money on football. Let’s wish AIFF all success.
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