New Delhi: Expressing frustration over the lack of effort and professionalism on part of the state and district associations, former India football captain Baichung Bhutia said on Thursday that CEOs and development officers should be appointed at those places to keep a tab on the progress ahead of the 2017 Under-17 World Cup.
“Most of the district and state associations have never shown interest to conduct age-group tournaments in their places. No state would come forward with such initiative,” Bhutia said during the International Football Convention at FICC here.
States, which are willing to appoint professionals, will be helped by the AIFF as far as appointments are concerned, Bhutia, who is also the chairman of AIFF’s technical committee, said.
India had won the bid to host the Under-17 World Cup and Bhutia said yesterday that AIFF should start preparing to put up a quality team at the prestigious tournament to compete against the top sides.
Referring to non-payment of dues by Mohun Bagan to some of their players, Bhutia said the federation, clubs and state associations “should be more professional in dealing with such issues”. (PTI)