IndianFootball.Com Interview: PETER VELAPPAN (AFC GENERAL SECRETARY)

Dato' Peter Velappan is the general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation and we wanted to know from him what the AFC has in store for the development of Indian football.
indianfootball.com was able to do the eMail interview with Peter Velappan, with kind help from Gary Mark Nagan (AFC Media Officer)!

1. A few month's ago the AFC announced it's Vision Asia plans, with special status to China and India. What does this mean for India?

The special consideration for India and China were:

Size of population and countries. Both are members of the billionaire club.

Immense potential to reach the top level.

2. What is your opinion of the three-day conference on Indian Football in New Delhi (March 13-15)?

It was a conference well organised and well covered by the media. The delegates of the state association and other sectors were also enthusiastic. At the end of the conference, they took a pledge to work hard for Vision India. They accepted the fact that changes must start at the state association and clubs and they hope to do so.

3. Will this conference help the future of Indian football?

This conference is part of Vision Asia, which is a massive development plan to raise the level of Asian football from amateur status to professionalism. If the AIFF and its members follow the doctrine of Vision Asia, Indian football will be the talk of Asia in the next 10 years.

4. Among the things you had said at the conference, you said that the AIFF needs to be restructured and converted into a professional organisation from an amateur voluntary organisation. How is the AFC going to help the AIFF in this?

I'm pleased to note that the President Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and Secretary Alberto Colaco have started with the restructuring of the secretariat which will move from Goa to New Delhi by the end of this year. They are in the process to identify professionals to get the ball rolling. Both FIFA and AFC will be working closely with the AIFF to realise this Vision India.

5. Some state associations and certain clubs have said since the conference that they would like to keep the current status quo. Would the AFC intervene, if the AIFF, the associated state organisations and the clubs don't act on the recommendations given?

I'm confident all state association and clubs will see a vision of riding this new wave of confidence in Indian football. Nobody would want to be left behind.

6. If needed, would the AFC get directly involved in Indian football? Will the AFC send experts to work in Indian football? Or experts to monitor the developments?

FIFA and AFC will send experts in different disciplines to establish a sound system for all the disciplines. They will undertake training and education courses for Indians to eventually take full responsibility in football. AFC will closely monitor progress through visit and conferences.

7. How do you rate Indian football at the moment in Asia?

Given their ranking of 21st in Asia and 123rd in the FIFA World Rankings, it is unacceptable given the power of the huge population and talents. Indian teams cannot really do well in the international arena because there is no system of progressive development. The quality of clubs and the national league determine the quality of Indian team.

8. How do you rate the current performances of Indian national teams?

The youth teams of the U-17 and U-20 have shown a lot of promise and clubs should take full responsibility to develop them further. You cannot build a house from the roof, you must start with a foundation which is grassroots through football schools and youth development programmes.

9. You know our national coach Stephen Constantine. What would you say about him?

He is a good coach, hard working and done well with the Indian teams under severe constraints. He will need the assistance and cooperation of many more coaches for youth, clubs, and state teams.

the interview was done by Arunava Chaudhuri per eMail (April 2003)

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