NEW DELHI: If Asian Football has to improve the players should get a better deal, said Mr., Peter Velappan, the secretary of the Asian Football Confederation at a news conference.

Mr. Velappan, who is here under the invitation of the AIFF to discuss matters relating to the AFC executive committee meeting scheduled to be held in Delhi in November, said that itis the player who is the main actor in the game and it is he who should be given better facilities and provided enough security.

In this context, he said that the AFC will ask every country to introduce professional who achieves great heights,

He said countries like South Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and those from the Gulf have already introduced professionalism. “Some in a big way and some on. A moderate scale, but they are reaping the harvest now. In India, there is some semblance of professionalism in Calcutta and {this is a good sign,” he said. In Asia we have system, I hope we will be able to do better in the next five years, he added.

Mr. Velappan said that India is an important member of the AFC. With all the discussions, he had with the AIFF officials, Mr. Velappan felt that Indian football is going in the right direction. He said that both FIFA and AFC would support the AIFF with technical expertise to help restore India’s past glory.

Mr., Velappan said that AFC at its own ‘expense is ready to send and instructor for referees to provide technical assistance.

It’s the club organization which is most important, said Mr. Velappan; He said that AFC is promoting Asian club championship. India, China and Japan should introduce more club football, he said, the clubs should have different teams for different age groups. “We are also laying more stress ‘on the youth championship,” said the AFC Secretary who added that tournaments for Asian youth under 16 and under 19 are held regularly, At the last meeting, AFC had planned to introduce under 21 championship also he said, At the youth level, Asia is making tremendous progress but it is at the senior level that it has long way to go, said Mr. Velappan. He said that Qatar, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, China and Japan have made tremendous progress in the youth championship.

Das Munshi the president of the All India Football Federation who was also present at the conference said that foreign exchange for the Nehru Cup centenary soccer tournament have been cleared by the government. There will be eight teams in the tournament which will be held from November 20 to December 6 at Calcutta, ‘The composition of the foreign teams have yet to be finalized but the AIFF is negotiating with teams from Brazil, Uruguay, USSR, Morocco and Norway.

Article extracted from this publication >>  October 13, 1989