Former India striker Abhishek Yadav has been appointed as the first deputy general secretary of All India Football Federation (AIFF) after the sports activities physique determined to create a brand new publish in its hierarchy. It is likely one of the uncommon situations when a former Indian staff participant has been appointed to a excessive-rating place within the sport’s nationwide federation.

The 40-12 months-previous former worldwide, who has performed with the likes of Bhaichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri, Mahesh Gawli and Climax Lawrence, has been serving as nationwide staff’s director since January 2018.

“Abhishek has done a commendable job so far and I have personally observed him grow in stature as an administrator,” stated AIFF president Praful Patel.

Yadav, who’s revered amongst his contemporaries and in addition served as the captain of the Indian staff, has been concerned with the AIFF in numerous capacities for some time now, working intently with general secretary Kushal Das.

“AIFF general secretary Kushal Das has guided and given me valuable inputs throughout the time I have been involved in the AIFF set-up. I must thank him for helping me as playing and administration are totally different,” Yadav stated.

“I also have to thank the president for supporting me in various football development initiatives after I got the opportunity to work for the betterment of Indian football,” he added.

Yadav took the initiative to begin the AIFF’s scouting programme, each in India and overseas, earlier than taking on the position of the director of India’s nationwide groups.

Giving Yadav a key administrative position is a reward for his “impressive work” with the nationwide groups.

The federation is definite that bringing into its fold a nicely-identified former participant, with information of the football ecosystem, may gain advantage the federation.

Das had excessive reward for Yadav’s work with the AIFF and backed him to excel in his new position.

“Abhishek has really impressed in the time he has been with the AIFF, working with our scouting program and national teams.

“He has risen through the system with his hard work and we feel that he is well suited to such a role and has all the tools to succeed in it,” Das informed PTI.

According to the federation prime bosses, Yadav’s work with AIFF’s developmental facet Indian Arrows and the U-17 nationwide staff for the 2017 FIFA World Cup at residence was “commendable”.

He developed the AIFF’s worldwide scouting venture in cooperation with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), serving to create alternatives for Indian passport holders, who have been based mostly overseas.

Yadav was additionally the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of India’s U-17 World Cup staff.

He additionally performed a key position in chalking out a plan for the revival of Indian Arrows, which included selecting the perfect of expertise from the India U-16 and U-17 groups.

Yadav has had an extended and profitable profession in Indian football, representing the likes of Mahindra United, Churchill Brothers and Mumbai FC.

Notably, he scored the decisive purpose in India’s LG Cup triumph in 2002, coming off the bench to internet the winner on debut within the last towards Vietnam.

That strike, practically twenty years in the past, helped India win their first main trophy on overseas soil after a lean run of 28 years. He was additionally a part of the Indian staff that participated within the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar. PTI AH AH AT AT