October 8 – The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their relationship.
In a statement, the AIFF said that the MoU will allow the federations “the provision of technical support, the organization and hosting of youth competitions for both men and women on a regular basis, as well as exchange of football and governance experts.”
The Indian governing body is also planning to stage the knock-out stages of the Santosh Trophy National Championships in Saudi Arabia early next year. Launched in 1941, the Santosh Trophy is one of the most important competitions in Indian football.
“It is an out-of-the-box idea that I am sure will help Indian football to create a niche for itself among its loyal fans, who eagerly follow Indian football from wherever they are,” said AIFF president Shaji Prabhakaran.
“Our aim is to take Indian football forward and explore all possibilities. This move, we are confident, will inspire players from across the nation to showcase their performance in front of a bigger audience.”
The MoU also includes international exposure for Indian youth teams in Saudi Arabia. At present, India’s U-17 team is in Saudi Arabia to play in the qualifiers for the U-17 2023 Asian Cup.
Recently, the AIFF also approached the Qatar Football Association (QFA) to seek closer cooperation.
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