New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) Bob Houghton’s brainchild Goal 2011 is a challenge to both the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and market forces as the project can be a success only if it attracts high-profile sponsors like cricket does.
That’s how the AIFF secretary-general Alberto Colaco sees the blueprint to prepare the India team for the 2011 Asian Cup.

Colaco, who is quitting after eight years as AIFF’s first paid professional secretary-general, feels the federation should take it up as a challenge to market the project which kicked off with the union sports ministry chipping in with a fair contribution by way of providing passage for the Indian squad to train in Dubai and Barcelona.

Thanking the sports ministry for the gesture, Colaco told IANS that now the AIFF must take it forward.

“It is a huge project. I am thankful to the sports ministry for coming forward to bear a part of the project expenses. The real challenge for us is to market the project and get sponsors,” he said.

Houghton’s plan was modified at the last AIFF executive Committee meeting as some top clubs were unwilling to release players for two seasons and also devalue the prestigious I-League. For instance, Dempo, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal said they would not like to play the Asian club competitions without their star players.

The new plan, which came into force this month, shows that the I-League and the Federation Cup of the 2010-11 season have been put off till February 2011. The players, however, will be allowed to turn out for their clubs in 2009-10 but they will have to be released once the domestic season gets over.

Houghton had originally suggested that 25-27 national players be released by their clubs till the Asia Cup in 2011. The AIFF executive approved a budget of Rs.40 crore for the project.