AIFF Sec Gen Shaji Prabhakaran elected as AFC Executive Committee Member

The decision was made at the SAFF Congress.

AIFF Secretary General, Shaji Prabhakaran has been elected as an AFC Executive Committee Member for the period between 2023-2027. The decision came at the SAFF Congress in Dhaka on the 6th of May.

The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) held a meeting today at Dhaka, regarding the upcoming SAFF Championship. Also, with Kuwait already having been added to the list of countries playing in this year’s SAFF Championship, the inclusion of another team was expected to be an important point of discussion.

A look at Shaji Prabhakaran’s journey to this point

Shaji Prabhakran hails from the state of Kerala, and has had an inert interest in football from a very tender age. Shaji’s early years were filled with a lot of love for football, and moving on, it became an integral part of his life.

Shaji Prabhakaran graduated from Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE), Gwalior in 1994, and in 2000, he did his Doctorate (Ph.D) in Physical Education (football). From there on, he slowly climbed the administrative ladder, and became the president of Football Delhi (Delhi Football Association). 

He has also been FIFA South Central Asia Development Officer, besides working at the Football House as director of vision and national teams when Alberto Colaco was the federation's general secretary.

Also, in September 2022, Shaji was elected as the Secretary General of AIFF by the newly-formed executive committee.

AIFF President Mr. Kalyan Chaubey has also admired Shaji in the past, and has appreciated his vision to bring about changes in the functionality of AIFF. He also said that Shaji’s experience would be crucial, and will help bring in new and fresh ideas which will provide the much-needed fillip to Indian football.

Shaji Prabhakran’s selection in such an integral position of the Asian Football Confederation, is a joyous feat not only for him, but for the entire footballing fraternity in India , and we hope for his thumping success at the Asian Stage.

Shaji Prabhakaran's words

“I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to members of the SAFF and AIFF for giving me this honour by electing me to the AFC Executive Committee. It is an honour for me to represent SAFF in the AFC Executive Committee, and I will try to play my part being a member for the continuous development of football in Asia by working closely with the AFC President and his team.”