Need for women`s national league underpinned

The importance of having a women`s league was underlined and proper planning for the same in detail was discussed at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women`s Assistance Programme (WAP) here on Tuesday.

New Delhi: The importance of having a women`s league was underlined and proper planning for the same in detail was discussed at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women`s Assistance Programme (WAP) on Tuesday.

The discussion focussed on development of women`s football in the country. The meeting was attended by Teo Chwee Lian Julie, Head of Women`s Development (Technical Division) and Fan Yunjie, Co opted Member, AFC Technical Committee (AFC Coaching Instructor). It shed light on the perennial issues of football for the fairer sex in the country like proper infrastructure, women coaches, more number of competitions, the need for proper marketing of women`s football and other related issues. Apart from the AFC delegates, Mrs Mukesh Saggar, Vice Chairperson, Women`s Committee; Syed Shaheen, Delhi Soccer Association Secretary; Mrs Anju Luthra (DSA), and national team players Aditi Chauhan, Swati Rawat and former Indian player Disha Malhotra also took part in the discussion. Stressing on the importance of having a women`s national league, Fan Yunjie said: "A women`s national league is the platform where all players from across the country gets a chance to showcase her talent." "It is imperative that a national league, like for men`s is happening every year. This is where women`s football will grab the eyeballs and give it the much needed fillip." According to the four-year plan charted out by the national team department in the meeting, a dedicated women`s national league is expected to take center stage by 2015. "We are hopeful of organising a national league for women in the year 2015," National Teams Director Shubhankar Mukherjee said. "We at AIFF understand the importance of a women`s league and how like the I-League it can attract all interested parties to women`s football. We are working towards it."