AIFF chief pledges to revive J&K Football, meets key stakeholders

Srinagar Jan 9: President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Kalyan Chaubey, recently engaged with a wide range of stakeholders, including football club owners, former J&K Football Association (JKFA) officials, coaches, players, and journalists, to understand the challenges facing the sport in the region.

According to a statement issued, the recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir was aimed at reviving the region's once-glorious football legacy.

The statement reads that it was his personal desire to see J&K Football once again flourishing. All India Football Federation President Kalyan Chaubey recently met all the stakeholders of J&K to get a deeper perspective of what is ailing in J&K football and its association.

AIIF President Kalyan Chaubey who was on the personal visit to Kashmir, spared a full day of his personal visit for the meeting with stakeholders of J&K football to get inside info and ground level know how of the issues pertaining J&K football and particularly J&K Football Association.

Making it clear that he is on his personal visit and he personally wants to see J&K Football Association get back on track for the welfare of the game and footballers, AIFF President met Real Kashmir FC owner, various club owners, former J&K Football Association office bearers, former J&K Sports Council members, sports journalists, coaches, players, current DFA Srinagar officials, and JKFA officials.

“Since 2022, J&K Football Association is without any elected body. While the district-level elections mainly in Kashmir province were held, the central body elections couldn’t be held due to various issues that include court cases,” the statement read.

The statement further stated that the lack of proper set up in JKFA had greatly affected J&K football, which also hinders AIFF developmental work in J&K.

“In the absence of the JKFA central body, AIFF had to deal with the J&K Sports Council, and in fact, the recent J&K Santosh Trophy team was directly handled by the Council," read the statement.

However, amid all this, it is the game and footballers that are suffering, and the AIFF President, during his meeting with stakeholders, made it clear that his intentions are to get deeper insight into the trouble inside JKFA and how it can be sorted out. He said that for the same reasons he met all the stakeholders and not just Football Association officials.

Kalyan Chaubey also said that he has personally witnessed glory days of J&K Football and hope to see that again. He said that he will be visiting J&K again shortly and will also seek a meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for the same.

He also sought information from stakeholders regarding various court cases related to JKFA.

Kalyan Chaubey also congratulated the J&K Football Team for qualifying for the next edition of the National Games after finishing in the top 8 during the recent Santosh Trophy tournament.

Meanwhile, the stakeholders put in their opinions in front of the AIFF President, but mostly everyone gave the feedback that football in J&K is suffering and needs immediate remedy.