India's first FIFA girls' academy in Hyderabad
The decisions were announced on Saturday following a memorandum of understanding between All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Telangana government at the first Telangana Sports Conclave in Hyderabad.
'It is not only the first of its kind in India but also one of the very few globally under FIFA's Talent Development Scheme,' said Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy. 'It is a strong step forward towards our goal of qualifying for the U17 men's and women's FIFA World Cups,' said AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey.
To be operational from this month, the project's cost will be around ₹7.23 crore annually, according to an AIFF official. FIFA will pay around ₹65 lakh which will comprise the head coach's salary and living cost, the official said. AIFF will pay for the rest of the support staff, around 10 in all, for the boys' and girls' academies and it will cost around ₹61 lakh per year.
The rest of the amount, around ₹5.97 crore per year, will be provided by the Telangana government, said the AIFF official. Not authorised to speak to the media, the official did not want to be named. With FIFA, AIFF will fix the training curriculum.
The AIFF official said the head coach, chosen by a team under FIFA's chief of global football Arsene Wenger, for the academy is expected in Hyderabad on August 26. 'The players have also been chosen after trials supervised by AIFF scouts and FIFA representatives,' said the official. A new coach is also likely for the FIFA academy in Bhubaneswar replacing Sergi Fontrodona, the official said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Five Compassion players called for AIFF-FIFA talent academy trials
Compassion FC have consistently won trophies in women's youth football Panaji: Five U-16 girls from Compassion FC have been selected to attend the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy trials scheduled to take place in Hyderabad, Telangana, from August 23. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has officially extended the invitation to the players through a letter dated August 5, underlining the importance of the opportunity as part of the Vision 2047 initiative to identify and develop future stars of Indian football. The players include Tyreana Miquela Muniz, Sienna Megan Fernandes, Siya Sandesh Naik, Lillian Nicole Rodrigues and Shanaica Gonsalves. Additionally, Valanca Fernandes (Dunes SC, Mandrem) has also been summoned for the three-day trials. The academy will be located at the Gachibowli Stadium Complex in Hyderabad and will offer year-round high-performance training, with residential facilities, education, medical care, nutrition, and mental wellness to 30 girls (U16). 'This academy is a game-changer for girls in football,' said Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy. 'It is not only the first of its kind in India but also one of the very few globally under FIFA's Talent Development Scheme. Young talents, especially girls, from Telangana and beyond will now have access to elite infrastructure, education, and a clear pathway to the national and international stage.'
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
After players, referees feel ISL stalemate heat
Contracted till Aug 31, professional referees have told the AIFF that the lack of clarity over the season could force them to seek alternative employment Panaji: It's not just the players, officials and support staff who are sweating due to the uncertainty swirling around Indian football . TOI has learnt that nine match officials -- including three FIFA referees and three FIFA assistant referees -- contracted with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on full-time basis, have told the federation that the lack of clarity over the season could force them to seek alternative employment. According to sources, the referees receive a fixed monthly payment of Rs 80,000 from the AIFF, besides Rs 20,000 for every match they officiate in the top tier. Assistant referees are paid Rs 60,000 as fixed sum and Rs 15,000 in match fees. 'Many of us have dedicated ourselves fully to this role, even stepping away from other professional opportunities in order to focus solely on refereeing at the highest level,' the referees said in their letter to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey on Tuesday. 'The lack of certainty regarding continuation of ISL has created uncertainty around our future and could compel us to seek alternative employment, which would not only impact our livelihoods but also affect the continuity and development of professional refereeing in India. ' Contracted till August 31, the referees have asked the AIFF to 'consider extending our contracts at the earliest, so we may continue contributing to Indian football with full focus and commitment.' Indian football is facing an unprecedented crisis due to uncertainty over the top-tier Indian Super League (ISL) with FSDL, the federation's marketing partners, keeping the season on hold 'until further clarity emerges on the contractual structure beyond the end of current MRA term' on Dec 8 this year. AIFF has said its hands are tied due to an oral order from the Supreme Court that bars them from taking any decision on the renewal of the contract until the final order. Clubs, worried, are hoping that they will have some clarity after their meeting with Chaubey on Thursday. While eight clubs had officially sought an appointment, four more are expected to join hands and seek clarity. Sources said two senior FSDL officials will attend the meeting in the Capital. The meeting comes amid growing concern over the future of several clubs. Odisha FC, 'after careful and thorough consideration, and in alignment with the evolving situation,' suspended all player and staff contracts with effect from August 5, while Bengaluru FC – captained by India legend Sunil Chhetri -- said they are 'constrained to temporarily suspend all remuneration payments to all players and technical staff, with immediate effect. ' Constrained by circumstances, Chennaiyin FC were the latest to suspend all activities of the club on Wednesday. 'All clubs are constantly in touch with both, FSDL and AIFF, to keep us apprised on any developments, hoping that the impasse will be resolved sooner than later,' the club's general manager Ekansh Gupta told all players and technical staff via email on Wednesday. 'We are also keeping an eye on the Supreme Court's listing of the AIFF matter. All of us in the ecosystem are doing everything we can to ensure a positive outcome. '
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Indian Express
Chennaiyin FC put club operations on ‘temporary pause' as ISL limbo continues
Chennaiyin FC has announced a pause on their first-team operations, thus becoming the latest Indian Super League (ISL) club to publicly announce the effect of the ongoing limbo around the future of the league. Earlier, Bengaluru FC announced that they had suspended salaries of their first team personnel – both player and coaching staff, while Odisha FC's owner Rohan Sharma indirectly confirmed on X that their first-team operations also stand suspended. 'In light of the continuing uncertainty surrounding the future of the Indian Super League, Chennaiyin FC has taken the extremely difficult decision to temporarily pause club operations,' Chennaiyin said in a statement that they released on their social media handles. 'We hope that this pause will be short-lived and that we can return to doing what we love as soon as there is clarity for all clubs. Throughout this uncertainty, our commitment to the growth of Indian football, upon which this journey began remains as strong as ever.' The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is set to meet CEOs of ISL clubs on Thurday in New Delhi. Chennaiyin are among the clubs that are to be part of the meeting. Earlier, Bengaluru FC urged the AIFF and and the Football Sport Development Limited (FSDL), the joint venture that runs the ISL, to end the impasse on the 2025/26 season of the club while stating that they have 'indefinitely' suspended 'salaries of the players and staff belonging to the first team'. Odisha FC owner Rohan Sharma, meanwhile, stated on X that the club hasn't shut down. 'Key staff members are retained, our women's team will be operational. However, it becomes harder to justify to my stakeholders to sink Crs (crores) upon Crs with nothing to show for it, and no end in sight,' he said. 'We didn't go into this offseason planning to take this step. In fact we had made 5 signings until it became clear things are delayed.' The FSDL said in a letter to all ISL clubs in early July that the 2025/26 season of the league has been put on hold amid uncertainty over the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the Reliance subsidiary and the AIFF. The ISL usually runs from September to April and the current MRA ends on December 8, 2025, in the third month of the league.
