AIFF to seek Rs 10 crore financial assistance from BCCI

New Delhi: The All India Football Federation is planning to approach cash-rich Indian Cricket Board for

financial assistance for its national team`s 2011 Asian Cup preparations. With little funds coming from corporate houses for the `Goal 2011 Project`, AIFF acting president Praful Patel is seeking help of his party chief Sharad Pawar to get financial assistance to the tune of Rs 10 crore, sources said. India qualified for the January 2011 Asian Cup in Doha after winning the AFC Challenge Cup last year here. When contacted BCCI treasurer MP Pandove said that he was not aware of any such development as yet. "Nothing has come to me as yet," he said. The AIFF had earlier thought of a two-year project under which around 25 top Indian footballers will be kept for national duty without allowing to play for their respective clubs till the end of the Asian Cup campaign. It was later reduced to an eight-month project starting in June 2010. During the eight months, the Indian footballers will play a series of international matches to prepare themselves for Doha. The AIFF will also pay footballers the contract money they were supposed to receive from their clubs. Recently, the sports ministry had sanctioned Rs 10 crore for the Indian football team`s Asian Games preparations. The ministry had also committed to bear a part of the cost for the `Goal 2011 Project`. Bureau Report