Former TN skipper first Indian to get full-time role
CHENNAI: Former India player and Tamil Nadu skipper Syed Sabir Pasha joined the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as its new Technical Director (TD) on Wednesday. Pasha, who has been given a one-year contract initially, became the first Indian to take full-time charge as TD.
The post was vacant for some time as all the four previous full-time TDs -- Rob Baan, Scott O'Donnell, Isac Doru and Savio Medeira - left their jobs last year. Savio was the last Indian to serve as AIFF's technical director, but it wasn't a full-time position.
"I'm thankful to the AIFF for showing faith in me. This is a great opportunity for me and I'm confident that with everyone's help and cooperation in the AIFF, I'll be able to bring changes for the development of the game," Pasha told TOI from Delhi on Wednesday. Pasha, who took charge on Wednesday, will be based out of New Delhi for the next one year.
"Given his experience and the work he has done throughout his playing and coaching career, he is a deserving candidate to be the Technical Director. We are very sure that he will grow in the job and will be taking the leadership role in the technical matters of Indian football," AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey told the media.
Pasha, who parted ways with Chennaiyin FC last month and was in line for the job after an eight-year stint as assistant coach, has vast experience both as a player and coach. The Chennai man feels, without developing grassroots level football, India will not be able to achieve big at the international level. The former India international handled responsibilities of a manager at the AIFF Elite Academy in 2013. The Elite Academy, which was a joint initiative by the AIFF and FIFA, worked on the development of youth football in the country.
"I'm aware of what it takes to develop grassroots football and I've already started chalking out plans for the same. I'll be sharing my plan with the federation soon. It's a pretty tough job but as I said with everyone's support, this can be achieved. I'm lucky that I'll be getting full support from our chief technical officer Vincent Subramanyam," Pasha added.
According to the former international, it's an absolute necessity to have academies in every state and that's why the AIFF has started discussing the matter with ISL and I-League clubs to make it mandatory to have academies of their own.
"Yes, that's a must. The AIFF has started giving licences to the clubs so that the federation can build friendly relations with them and guide them to have a seamless experience in running the academy. Primarily my job would be to focus on the overall development of a budding player. It'll not only help him play football but will also take care of his full-time education so that he emerges as a true professional in future," Pasha said.
