The All India Football Federation has announced a policy to assist football players and technical staff who have served in the Indian National Teams and who may require assistance with hospitalization fees or grants to their family in the event of a footballer’s death.
Individuals including all players and technical staff who have represented the country since 1950 are eligible to apply for financial help, according to the AIFF’s rules. Moreover, each request will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis using the guidelines.
AIFF secretary Kushal Das said, “The AIFF values the immense contribution of the players who have brought laurels for the country. While AIFF has financially assisted players and staff even in the past on a case-to-case basis, we have now tried to formalize the process. We have henceforth, laid down a procedure wherein we are ready to help for the benefit of all our heroes, and their families.”
Former Indian captain Victor Amalraj has praised the AIFF’s initiative, believing that such a scheme can only aid people in need. On Thursday, Amalraj retired as the deputy general manager of the Food Corporation of India after 40 years of service. He had the uncommon distinction of guiding Kolkata’s top three teams East Bengal, Mohammedan Sporting, and Mohun Bagan.
The ace midfielder, who had spent 14 years in Kolkata, first represented India in the President’s Cup event in North Korea in 1981, and then led the Indian team to victory in the same tournament in Dhaka in 1983.
Amalraj, who joined the FCI under the sports quota in Kolkata in 1980, had served the organization for 15 years there before returning to his home place in Hyderabad. He served them for 25 long years and strove hard for the improvement of all the sports in the city. Amalraj had a vital role in organising inter-divisional tournaments in football, cricket, badminton, hockey, and table tennis.
