DOHA, QATAR
All India Football Federation (AIFF) is moving in new directions thanks to the new men at the helm of affairs who are determined to bring wholesome changes and wake up the ‘sleeping giant’.
One such move is to widen the talent movement and not confine it to just India but in places where young Indians are in significant numbers and the game is played and practised on professional lines.
AIFF's first stop is in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where a large number of Indians work and many families are based in each of the seven Emirates of the country.
The AIFF have as a first step appointed former India International Franky Barreto, who now is a certified coach, as the International Talent Scout for UAE.
“It's about identifying potential Indian talent and recommending to India youth teams. Also helping to develop Indian football at Indian schools and academies,” said the former Salgaocar SC and East Bengal defender, who also played for Churchill Bros and Vasco SC.
“I have compiled a strategic plan and will be taking support from like-minded individuals, Indian Schools Physical Education teachers and Indian academy coaches in the UAE to work cohesively in achieving the goals,” added Barreto who has been based in UAE for the last 20 years.
“One of my goals is to recommend to AIFF this model to other parts of the Middle East as well if it’s successful in the UAE,” added the Varca-born coach, who played professional football for 12 years and represented the country in 17 matches.
Barreto is not new to raw Indian football talent in UAE as he is the co-founder of Pioneer Sports Academy, Dubai, launched in 2020.
He is also the Middle East representative of Association of Indian Football Coaches (AIFC).
“The infrastructure here is superb, if anyone wants to develop and take sports as a career,” he says about the training facilities in UAE.
On Goan football talent in UAE, he said: “There’s a lot of Goan kids training at our academy in Dubai, some are very talented and I think can pursue it as a career. With hard work, focus and commitment they can definitely make it big. We also give opportunities to Goans, if they are certified coaches to be part of our coaching team.”
Need good structured sports programme in Goa: FrankyRegarding suggestions to improve football in Goa he said: “It’s hard to give suggestions from being outside the country, I believe there are enough experienced personalities in Goa who are trying their best to improve sports. However, one thing, I think would be good if we have a good structured sports programme in schools starting from kindergarten, building a sports culture in school may be a very good starting point to get involvement and develop talent."
"Also in Goa, particularly in football, I believe if GFA, GFDC and SAG work together in synergy, it would be a game changer for football," he said as a parting shot.
