New Delhi: The All India Football Federation has decided to field its U-20 national team in the 2024-25 I-league, two years after disbanding its developmental side Indian Arrows.
AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey announced the decision in a meeting with I-League clubs on Monday. In September 2022, the AIFF’s executive committee had decided to discontinue the Arrows team citing difficulty in fulfilling the AFC’s strict licensing criteria.
But the developmental programme is again being revived with an aim of giving the junior players greater game time in the competitive environment of the I-League, which is tentatively scheduled for an October 19 kick-off.
The nomenclature and home venue of the U-20 team is yet to be decided along with the identity of its coach. The AIFF has planned to bear the expense of the team’s stay and logistics to play in a home and away format but are also exploring avenues to secure funding for it.
“It is not exactly the revival of the Indian Arrows project. But we want to prepare the U-20 boys and girls teams for the senior team from here on,” AIFF’s acting general secretary M Satyanarayan told News9 Sports.
“We have though of a year-long plan for the U-20 teams and the first step to provide them more game time is to let them play competitive matches in the I-League.”
Under the guidance of former international Ranjan Chaudhuri, the U-20 team will participate in the SAFF U-20 Championship in Nepal from August 16-28 and then tackle Iran, Mongolia and Laos in the group stage of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers in Laos from September 21-29.
The U-20 team will have immunity from relegation, just as the Arrows team had when it played in the I-League from 2010-11 till 2012-13, when it was disbanded for the first time after its sponsors backed out.
It was again brought back in 2017-18 to provide playing time to those players who played for the national team that participated in the U-17 World Cup as hosts of the tournament and was scrapped in 2022.
Training mode: ON!
Our U20 training camp in Goa, focusing on skills, strategy, and teamwork under Coach Ranjan Chaudhuri. 🎯⚡️
Let’s cheer them on! 🇮🇳#IndianFootball⚽️ pic.twitter.com/cq5qBkTHqj
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 14, 2024
Promise of better quality broadcast production
The I-League clubs had earlier raised several grievances over the manner in which the tournament was conducted by the AIFF.
In Monday’s meeting that was attended by 12 clubs, representatives of four of them were present virtually.
“Addressing the feedback received from the clubs, AIFF has assured to work with the stakeholders on proactive steps to help raise I-League profile with renewed focus on its marketing and promotion, broadcast, fixture and refereeing,” the AIFF said in a statement.
“AIFF is keen to schedule I-League games on prime time with an increased ‘up to 8 camera’ HD broadcast kit. It has requested clubs to revert with updates on their home stadium infrastructure including commitment on pitch quality of international standard throughout the season, and their ability to install/upgrade 1800 lux floodlights – a minimum mandate for quality broadcast production.”
It was also conveyed to the clubs that there would be no relegation in the top-tier Indian Super League in 2024-25 season, in a deviation of the roadmap prepared by the Asian Football Federation and agreed upon by the AIFF in 2019.
Another meeting between the I-League clubs and the AIFF is scheduled for August 26 where concrete decisions could be taken over its organisation.
The AIFF wants to give more game time to its U-20 football team and has decided to field it in the 2024-25 I-League Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
