AIFF join hands with CPSFI to promote grassroots CP Football

The All India Football Federation (AIFF), in its pursuit to promote grassroots football across the country, organised a webinar for representatives from the Cerebral Palsy Sports Federation of India (CPSFI) as well as members from the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF) on Saturday (August 8, 2020).

Mr. Rajesh Tomar - President (CPSFI), Ms. Kavita Suresh - CEO (CPFSI),  Mr. Sam Turner - CEO / Secretary General (IFCPF), Mr. Tom Langen - Technical Director (IFCPF), Mr. Craig Carscadden - Chief Executive (CPISRA) and Mr. Chokey Nima - FIFA Regional Technical Consultant (South Asia) were present in the meeting.

Representatives from Cerebral Palsy Sports Federations from different countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka also joined the webinar.

Mr. Tomar thanked the AIFF for lending a hand to CPSFI in order to promote grassroots football and Cerebral Palsy football across the country.

"The AIFF has been very kind to support us through the movement. In the journey, I reached out to Mr. Kushal Das (General Secretary, AIFF) and since then, we have met quite a few times. CPSFI is working closely with the AIFF, who have already assured us all sorts of technical support including logistics, coaching, training, equipment etc,"

Online Grassroots Development programme

The Online Grassroots Development programme, or 'ePathshala', is an initiative to engage young football players across all of India to believe in themselves, enjoy football and get active. Through an innovative partnership with CPSFI, the AIFF are working to engage players of all ages from CP Football to get involved.

The themes of 'My Football', 'My Skills' and 'My Training' all share videos and activities for the players to watch, and then they have the opportunity to share their own photos and videos of themselves in action.

CPSFI have a close relationship with the South Asian Cerebral Palsy Sports Federation and therefore have invited even more countries to benefit from this exciting programme. Players from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka will also take part alongside their counterparts from India.

Ms. Swati Kothari, General Manager, AIFF, praised CPSFI for taking up the initiative as well. 

"It is a nice initiative from grassroots as well as the developmental perspective. AIFF will be happy to work alongside CPSFI in order to promote grassroots football among those kids and move forward together,"

Mr. Nima said: "The intention to promote grassroots football amongst the less privileged kids is our priority. It falls under the domain of the AIFF and FIFA. We will work towards achieving the target. It's wonderful to be a part of this project."

The programme is planned to go live from 15th August 2020 which is also India's national independance day.