AIFF short-lists 10 candidates for general-secretary's post

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has short-listed 10 candidates instead of five for the post of general secretary.

The four-man selection committee, set up by AIFF president Praful Patel, had a nine-hour brain storming session Wednesday night and submitted the list to Patel Thursday morning.

Vice-presidents Subrata Dutta, Ankur Dutta, A.R. Khaleel and treasurer Hardev Jadeja were handpicked by Patel from the executive committee to prune the lists to five each.

But after going through the 40-odd applicants, the selection committee decided to pick 10 candidates for the interview of the general secretary's post.

A member of the committee told IANS that Goa Football Association (GFA) secretary Savio Messias and the young Shaji Prabhakaran, who till recently served as AIFF development officer, AIFF's deputy general secretary Goutam Kar, Wing commander Subodh Bhatnagar, Chandigarh Football Association secretary Rakesh Baxi and Leisure Sports Management's Sunando Dhar are among the 10 in fray for the general secretary's post.

Former Mahindra footballer and coach Harish Rao, AIFF's director of competitions Anil Kamath, Ian Stillie, a former chief executive of Scottish first division club Motherwell, and Dhar are among the five candidates short-listed for the post of I-League chief executive.

Olympian Syed Shahid (S.S.) Hakeem, who applied for both the posts, is the most noted name to be left out.

The candidates will be called for the interview next month and will be appointed after the Nehru Cup beginning August 18.

Last updated on Jul 23^rd, 2009 at 17:52 pm IST--IANS